System and method for automatic reconciliation of transaction account spend

ABSTRACT

A system and method for facilitating automatic reconciliation of transaction card transactions is disclosed, wherein a user may request single-use account codes via the Internet. The system comprises various hardware and software systems to enable a card member, program administrator, or any other designated third-party to request one or more single-use account codes. The requestor may further assign a descriptor for each of the one or more account codes. After receiving a requested account code, the requestor may communicate the account code to a merchant to facilitate a purchase transaction. The system retrieves a list of transactions from the card issuer at regular intervals, matches the account codes in the list to an account code and associated descriptor, and records the reconciled transaction within a database.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of, and claims priority to, U.S. Ser.No. 11/611,034 filed on Dec. 14, 2006 and entitled “SYSTEM AND METHODFOR AUTOMATIC RECONCILIATION OF TRANSACTION ACCOUNT SPEND,” The '034application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. No. 7,627,531 issuedon Dec. 1, 2009 (aka U.S. Ser. No. 09/800,461, filed Mar. 7, 2001) andentitled “System for Facilitating a Transaction.” The 531 patent claimspriority to U.S. provisional applications: (1) Ser. No. 60/187,620,filed Mar. 7, 2000, (2) Ser. No. 60/200,625, filed Apr. 28, 2000, and(3) Ser. No. 60/213,323, filed Jun. 22, 2000.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to the automated reconciliation of cardmember spend, and more particularly, to a system and method forproviding single-use account codes each having a designation with adescriptor of a specific spend transaction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Corporations often empower employees to execute purchase transactions onbehalf of the company in the course of day-to-day operations. Suchpurchases may include, for example, office supplies, cliententertainment, travel expenses, and/or the like. It is generallyaccepted among businesses that the most convenient and safe manner forproviding this empowerment is through opening a corporate transactioncard account. Through a centralized corporate account, the employer maydisperse any desired number of transaction cards to its workforce.However, tracking spending and reconciling accounting systems for alarge number of corporate transaction cards is most often a timeconsuming and error prone task.

Traditionally, corporate accounting departments have relied on spendingdisclosure among each card carrying employee. Disclosure policies varyamong corporations. For example, some may require the employee to submita receipt and description of the charge following each purchasetransaction. Others may require the employee to turn in receipts and aspending report at the end of each month. In either case, the accountingdepartment is charged with the task of matching each billing statemententry with a corresponding receipt and/or entry in a spending report.

Regardless of policy, accounting departments regularly assigndescriptive elements to the transactions listed in a billing statementin order to properly account for the purchases. Presently, most of thedetails are added to the statement after the purchase has been made andthe transaction details are reviewed. However, this can be unreliableand resource intensive, especially in environments incurring a highlevel of transaction card spend. As such, there is a need for a systemand method for performing highly reliable, pre-reconciliation oftransactions by assigning an appropriate descriptive element to asingle-use account number prior to its use. Such system may usepreconfigured descriptive elements to match charges appearing within abilling statement with descriptive elements to present the corporationwith a reconciled transaction to the business.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention includes a system and method for automatically describingand/or reconciling large volumes of transaction card transactions. Thesystem provides pre-reconciliation of transactions in accordance with anassignment of appropriate descriptive elements to an account numberprior to use. The system includes an interface wherein programadministrator may request one or more account numbers that areassociated with a primary card account number, add a transactiondescriptor to each account number, and specify constraints. Constraintsmay include, for example, an account number expiration date, atransaction amount limit, the type of spend the account number may beused for, and/or the like. Each account number is limited to a singlepurchase transaction, and as the charge posts to the account, the systemmatches the descriptive element to the transaction details.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the invention may be derived byreferring to the detailed description and claims when considered inconnection with the Figures, wherein like reference numbers refer tosimilar elements throughout the Figures, and:

FIG. 1 is an overview of an exemplary system for facilitating atransaction.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of exemplary processes of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a web page screen shot of a card provider's exemplary splashpage for a transaction system;

FIG. 4 is a web page screen shot of a card provider's exemplary onlineregistration page for a transaction system;

FIG. 5 is a web page screen shot of a card provider's exemplary onlinelog-in page for a transaction system;

FIG. 6 is a web page screen shot of a card provider's exemplary onlinedrop-down menu used to select a primary charge card in the foregroundand an online merchant's payment web page in the background;

FIG. 7 is a web page screen shot, displaying in the foreground, anexemplary secondary transaction number (e.g., Private Payments™ number)returned to the user; and in the background, a merchant's payment webpage;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of exemplary components of the presentinvention;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of an example of some of the exemplary datastructure of the STN database of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a flow chart of an exemplary secondary transaction numbergeneration process of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram of an exemplary transaction authorizationphase of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is an screen shot of an exemplary transaction history report ofthe present invention;

FIG. 13 is a flow diagram depicting an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention involving an electronic line of credit system;

FIG. 14 is a flow diagram depicting one embodiment of an exemplarytransaction system of the present invention used to facilitate anon-currency based membership rewards program;

FIG. 15 is a flow diagram depicting a second embodiment of an exemplarytransaction system of the present invention used to facilitate amembership rewards program;

FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating the major exemplary systemcomponents for automatically reconciling, according to an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 17 is an exemplary overview process diagram for automaticreconciliation of card transactions, according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 18 is an exemplary process diagram for facilitating a purchasetransaction through a single-use account code, according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is an exemplary process diagram for facilitating a dailyreconciliation of card transactions, according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 20 is an exemplary process diagram for facilitating a monthlyreconciliation of card transactions, according to an embodiment of thepresent invention; and,

FIG. 21 is an exemplary database table for maintaining single-useaccount codes, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the inventionherein makes reference to the accompanying drawings, which show theexemplary embodiment by way of illustration and its best mode. Whilethese exemplary embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enablethose skilled in the art to practice the invention, it should beunderstood that other embodiments may be realized and that logical andmechanical changes may be made without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention. Thus, the detailed description herein ispresented for purposes of illustration only and not of limitation.

For the sake of brevity, conventional data networking, applicationdevelopment and other functional aspects of the systems (and componentsof the individual operating components of the systems) may not bedescribed in detail herein. Furthermore, the connecting lines shown inthe various figures contained herein are intended to represent exemplaryfunctional relationships and/or physical couplings between the variouselements. It should be noted that many alternative or additionalfunctional relationships or physical connections may be present in apractical system.

In general, the invention includes a system and method for automaticallyreconciling transaction card transactions through the use of single-useaccount codes that are created for a specific purchase transaction.While the invention contemplates the use of one or multiple use accountcodes, the invention will be described with respect to single-useaccount codes. For examples of single-use account codes, see. PatentApplication Publication No. 2006/0076400, “Limited Use PIN System andMethod,” filed on Oct. 7, 2004, and Patent Application Publication No.2001/0034720, “System for Facilitating a Transaction,” filed on Mar. 7,2001, both of which are incorporated by reference. 2006/0076400discloses a system for facilitating transactions via a limited use PINthat is associated with a primary account and/or PIN number, wherein thelimited use PIN is presented to the merchant to initiate a purchasetransaction. 2001/0034720 discloses a system for facilitating atransaction using a secondary transaction number that is associated witha cardholder's primary account. The cardholder may provide the secondarytransaction number, often with associated limited-use conditions, to amerchant to facilitate a more secure and confident transaction.

In one embodiment, the invention includes a unique system forfacilitating transactions that is easily and readily adaptable toexisting commercial transaction processing systems. While the system maycontemplate upgrades or reconfigurations of existing processing systems,changes to cardholder or merchant systems are not necessarily requiredby the present invention. For example, the present system maycontemplate, but does not require: downloading of software modules; adigitally-based, non-physical commerce card; activation or deactivationof the secondary transaction number; and certain embodiments do notrequire the existing online customer to separately register for theservice. Moreover, the transaction system herein described can beseamlessly integrated into current electronic commerce processes withminimal to no changes to existing systems used by cardholders ormerchants.

As used herein, “transaction” or similar terms may include any exchangeof a monetary value for goods and/or service. Specifically, with regardto the present invention, a transaction takes place when a holder of atransaction account provides an account code to a service establishmentin order to facilitate a transfer of funds from the transaction accountto the service establishment. A service establishment may comprise anymerchant of goods, services, information and/or other items.

An “account”, “account number” or “account code”, as used herein, mayinclude any device, code, number, letter, symbol, digital certificate,smart chip, digital signal, analog signal, biometric or otheridentifier/indicia suitably configured to allow the consumer to access,interact with or communicate with the system (e.g., one or more of anauthorization/access code, personal identification number (PIN),Internet code, other identification code, and/or the like). The accountnumber may optionally be located on or associated with a rewards card,charge card, credit card, debit card, prepaid card, telephone card,embossed card, smart card, magnetic stripe card, bar code card,transponder, radio frequency card or an associated account. The systemmay include or interface with any of the foregoing cards or devices, ora fob having a transponder and RFID reader in RF communication with thefob. Although the system may include a fob embodiment, the invention isnot to be so limited, indeed, system may include any device having atransponder which is configured to communicate with RFID reader via RFcommunication. Typical devices may include, for example, a key ring,tag, card, cell phone, wristwatch or any such form capable of beingpresented for interrogation. Moreover, the system, computing unit ordevice discussed herein may include a “pervasive computing device,”which may include a traditionally non-computerized device that isembedded with a computing unit. Examples can include watches, Internetenabled kitchen appliances, restaurant tables embedded with RF readers,wallets or purses with imbedded transponders, etc.

The account number may be distributed and stored in any form of plastic,electronic, magnetic, radio frequency, wireless, audio and/or opticaldevice capable of transmitting or downloading data from itself to asecond device. A customer account number may be, for example, asixteen-digit credit card number, although each credit provider has itsown numbering system, such as the fifteen-digit numbering system used byAmerican Express. Each company's credit card numbers comply with thatcompany's standardized format such that the company using asixteen-digit format will generally use four spaced sets of numbers, asrepresented by the number “0000 0000 0000 0000”. The first five to sevendigits are reserved for processing purposes and identify the issuingbank, card type, etc. in this example, the last (sixteenth) digit isused as a sum check for the sixteen-digit number. The intermediaryeight-to-ten digits are used to uniquely identify the customer. Amerchant account number may be, for example, any number or alpha-numericcharacters that identify a particular merchant for purposes of cardacceptance, account reconciliation, reporting, or the like.

Referencing the computer networked aspect of a preferred embodiment ofthis invention; each participant is equipped with a computing system tofacilitate online commerce transactions. The computing units may beconnected with each other via a data communication network. The networkis a public network and assumed to be insecure and open toeavesdroppers. In the illustrated implementation, the network isembodied as the internet. In this context, the computers may or may notbe connected to the internet at all times. For instance, the cardholdercomputer may employ a modem to occasionally connect to the internet,whereas the card provider computing center might maintain a permanentconnection to the internet. It is noted that the network may beimplemented as other types of networks, such as an interactivetelevision (ITV) network.

The merchant computer and the card provider computer may beinterconnected via a second network, referred to as a payment network.The payment network represents existing proprietary networks thatpresently accommodate transactions for credit cards, debit cards, andother types of financial/'banking cards. The payment network is a closednetwork that is assumed to be secure from eavesdroppers. Examples of thepayment network include the American Express®, VisaNet® and theVeriphone® network.

As depicted in FIG. 15, the present invention generally relates to atransaction system where a first party to a transaction (“cardholder 1”)provides to a second party to a transaction (“merchant 2”) a secondarytransaction number (STN) 15 that was generated by an issuer (“cardprovider 3”). In a preferred embodiment, although not required, the STN15 is immediately usable by the cardholder 1 without need for activationand may have associated therewith cardholder 1, card provider 3, ormerchant 2 defined conditions or parameters of use restrictions whichlimit use of the STN 15. A “transaction,” as defined herein, includes,inter alia, any exchange or delivery of value, exchange or delivery ofdata, gifting of value or data, etc. The term “transaction” not onlycontemplates an exchange of goods or services for value from one partyto another, but also the gifting of something from one party to another.Additionally, transaction or charge card numbers are account numbersthat are used to facilitate any type of transaction.

While an exemplary embodiment of the invention is described inassociation with a transaction system, the invention contemplates anytype of networks or transaction systems, including, for example,unsecure networks, public networks, wireless networks, closed networks,open networks, intranets, extranets, and/or the like.

The first party to the transaction (referred to herein as a “cardholder1”) is any individual, business or other entity who uses a STN 15 tofacilitate any transaction. In a preferred embodiment, the cardholder 1establishes a new or has an existing relationship or association with acard provider 3. For example, in one embodiment, a cardholder 1 may bean American Express® card member. In another embodiment, a cardholder 1may be a participant any suitable organization that provides transactionproducts or services. Another embodiment contemplates the cardholdergifting a secondary transaction number to a second party. The termcardholder 1 may also be referred to herein as “consumer,” “cardmember,” “user,” “customer” or the like.

The second party to the transaction (referred to herein as a “merchant2”) is any individual, business, or other entity who receives asecondary transaction number, whether or not in exchange for goods orservices. For example, in one embodiment, a merchant 2 may be an onlinebookstore such as Amazon.com®. In another embodiment, a merchant 2 maybe a local plumber. In yet another embodiment, a merchant 2 may be alocal hardware store. In some instances, the cardholder 1 and themerchant 2 may be the same. In other situations, the merchant 2 and thecard provider 3 are the same. Although referred to herein as a“merchant,” this term contemplates situations where any second partyreceives a secondary transaction number from the first party: such as,for example, where a cardholder 1 gifts a secondary transaction numberto another individual (i.e., second party merchant).

The issuer (“card provider 3”) includes any provider of products and/orservices that facilitates any type of transaction. As contemplated by anexemplary embodiment of the present invention, the card provider 3establishes and maintains account and/or transaction information for thecardholder 1. The card provider 3 may issue products to the cardholder 1and may also provide both the cardholder 1 and the merchant 2 with theprocesses to facilitate the transaction system of the present invention.The card provider 3 includes banks; credit unions; credit, debit orother transaction-related companies, telephone companies; or any othertype of card or account issuing institutions, such as card-sponsoringcompanies, incentive rewards companies, or third party providers undercontract with financial institutions. Unless otherwise specifically setforth herein, although referred to as “card provider,” this term shouldbe understood to mean any entity issuing any type of account tofacilitate any transaction, exchange or service; and should not belimited to companies possessing or issuing physical cards. In anexemplary system, the card provider 3 may be any transactionfacilitating company such as a charge card provider like AmericanExpress®, VISA®, Mastercard®, Discover®, etc. In another embodiment, thecard provider 3 could be any membership organization or union. In someinstances, the card provider 3 and the merchant 2 may be the same, forexample, where the STN 15 is issued by the same entity that provides theproduct or service. A STN 15 phone card issued by a telephone company,where the STN 15 phone card is tied to a primary telephone account isone such occasion.

An exemplary STN 15 is any transaction number, code, symbol, indicia,etc. that is associated with another number or account that has beendesignated by the cardholder 1 or the card provider 3 as a primarycharge card (PCC 20), i.e., primary account number. In an exemplaryembodiment, the STN 15 is a purchasing number that acts as a charge cardnumber and is associated with a PCC 20 account (e.g., a main chargecard, credit, debit card or other account number, such as a bank orbrokerage account, reward program account, etc.). In an exemplaryembodiment, a PCC 20 account is not identified by a STN 15. In certainembodiments, the PCC 20 account may have some identifying elementsrelated to the STN 15. The PCC 20 is defined herein to include any typeof transaction card that references any account, membership, affiliationor association. When more than one cardholder 1 account exists, the PCC20 is the account that has been designated by the cardholder 1 or thecard provider 3 as the primary account. Alternatively, there may be ahierarchy of accounts where the STN 15 is associated with one or morePCCs 20 in a designated order. Additionally, as depicted in at least oneembodiment described herein, a STN 15 may be associated with two or moreaccounts. For example, a STN 15 could be associated with a non-currencybased account and also a PCC 20 account.

As shown in FIG. 1, in a preferred embodiment, the STN 15 and the PCC 20have the same format, although additional embodiments may provide foraccount numbers with varying formats. In an exemplary embodimentinvolving credit, debit or other banking cards, the STN 15 has the sameindustry standard format that is used for the regular banking cards(e.g., 15 or 16 digit numbers). Preferably, the numbers are formattedsuch that one is unable to tell the difference between a STN 15 and aregular physical charge card. Alternatively, however, the cardprovider/product identifier (e.g., BIN range, first 6 digits, etc.)numbers may be different so as to differentiate the STNS from regularcharge card numbers. In referencing the STN 15 and the PCC 20 number, itshould be appreciated that the number may be, for example, asixteen-digit credit card number, although each card provider has itsown numbering system, such as the fifteen-digit numbering system used byAmerican Express. Each company's card numbers comply with that company'sstandardized format such that a company using a sixteen-digit formatwill generally use four spaced sets of numbers, as represented by thenumber “0000 0000 0000 0000,” The first five to seven digits arereserved for processing purposes and identify the issuing bank, cardtype etc. In this example, the last sixteenth digit is used as a sumcheck for the sixteen-digit number. The intermediary eight-to-ten digitsare used to uniquely identify the cardholder 1. The inventioncontemplates the use of other numbers, indicia, codes or other securitysteps in addition to the use of the STN 15, but in an exemplaryembodiment, only the STN 15 is provided to the merchant 2.

In a preferred embodiment, the STN 15 is randomly and instantaneouslygenerated by the card provider 3, usually upon a cardholder's request,and can be distributed to the cardholder 1 by a variety of methods(online, telephone, wireless, email, regular mail, etc.) all of whichshould be secure and dependent upon verification of the cardholder'sidentity. Unlike the temporary transaction numbers disclosed in theprior art previously discussed, in a preferred embodiment, although notrequired, the STN 15 is immediately active (and usable) once it isassociated with the cardholder's designated PCC 20 and provided to thecardholder 1. This feature minimizes the possibility that a merchant 2will obtain a transaction number that will be worthless because it wasnot properly activated by the cardholder 1. While the present inventionmay contemplate a previously allocated pool of numbers that needs to beactivated, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includesSTNs 15 that are instantaneously and randomly generated, and are usableupon receipt by the cardholder 1 without the need for separateactivation.

In another preferred embodiment, the STN 15 may have limited-use (orconditions-of-use) parameters placed upon it by the cardholder 1,merchant 2, or the card provider 3 in order for the numbers to berestricted for particular uses. Alternatively, the cardholder 1 is ableto choose system default parameters of use. Parameters may include, forexample: (i) use of the STN 15 is good for a predetermined number oftransactions; (ii) cardholder-determined expiration dates (i.e., STN 15will be generated with expiration dates that are associated butunrelated to the expiration date of the cardholder's PCC 20 number,other than that it cannot exceed the expiration date of the PCC 20account); (iii) limiting use of the STN 15 to a specified dollar amount,dollar amount per transaction, total dollar amount for pro-designatednumber of transactions, maximum dollar amount per month, etc.; (iv) useof the STN 15 for a specified merchant only; (v) restricting use to aspecified user, other than primary cardholder (e.g., child, spouse, giftrecipient, etc.); or (vi) any combination of these or similar features,for example, a number can be used at a specified merchant only for apro-designated number of transactions and for a maximum dollar amount.In an exemplary online embodiment, a cardholder 1 may desire to requireall online transactions (e.g., purchases) be performed using only STNS,or alternatively, be performed only with specific merchants as defined.If the cardholder (or another individual) uses a physical charge cardnumber for an online payment in violation of this condition, the cardprovider 3 would decline the authorization.

These parameters not only provide increased security, allowing acardholder 1 to tailor the STN 15 to a particular use, but an ancillarybenefit is the ability of a cardholder to select preferences to controlspending for themselves or others who have registered eligibility to usethe card (e.g., spouse, children, etc.). These preferences may include:Restrictions (cardholder 1 may choose to restrict use on certain sitesor can pre-approve spending at particular sites); date range (cardholder1 can select a period of time when transactions may occur); maximumbudget amount (cardholder 1 can pre-set spending limits within certainperiods of time or in certain categories (e.g. groceries, books,clothing)); credit and balance availability (cardholder 1 can checkcredit or demand deposit balance availability prior to transacting);non-currency based accounts, such as Reward Points as Currency(cardholder 1 can use reward points (e.g. Membership Rewards™, BlueLoot™) as currency to pay for purchases); and Gift Products (cardholder1 can use a STN 15 to fund gift products to others for designatedamounts).

As shown in FIG. 2, an exemplary embodiment of the present inventionincludes steps for: (i) registering a cardholder 1 to use the cardprovider's 3 transaction services (step 100); (ii) receiving from acardholder 1 a request for a STN 15 (step 105); (iii) generating a STN15, associating the STN 15 with a PCC 20, applying limited-useconditions, if desired, and issuing the STN 15 to the cardholder 1 (step110); (iv) processing a merchant's 2 authorization request involving theSTN 15 to determine if use of the STN is authorized (step 115); (v)processing a settlement request, paying the merchant, and billing thecardholder 1 (step 120); and (vi) handling disputes and other customerservice issues from the merchant or cardholder relating to use of theSTN 15 (step 125).

FIG. 8 depicts an overview of the components of an exemplary transactionsystem. In general, the card provider's computer system utilizes frontend 13 and backend 14 processing systems. The front end 13 systemcomprises, inter alia, a user interface system 4 (e.g., web server, IVR,etc), an application server 5, a STN database 6, and a cardauthorization system (CAS) 7. The application server 5 and STN database6 may, at times, be referred to collectively as the STN transactionsystem (or service) 18. Referencing FIGS. 2 and 8, these front end 13components facilitate (i) cardholder registration (step 100), (ii)request for a STN 15 (step 105), (ii) generation and issuance of the STN15 (step 110), and (iv) the STN authorization process (step 115). Thebackend 14 system comprises, inter aria, a financial capture system 10,a back-end application service 8, an accounts payable system 9 and anaccounts receivable system 11. Again referencing FIGS. 2 and 8, thebackend 14 components facilitate transaction settlement (step 120). Inan exemplary system, the dispute handling and customer service processes(step 125) include, inter alia, in addition to the above mentionedsystems, a system for identifying a PCC 20 from a STN 15, a lettergenerating system for sending dispute inquiries to cardholders 1 andmerchants 2, and a system that accepts incoming communication frommerchants 2 and converts the STN 15 received to the PCC 20 for thepurpose of facilitating the dispute handling process. More specifically,as shown in FIG. 8, the card provider 3 user interface system 4 providesthe cardholder 1 with access to the card provider's transactionservices, it is through this interface that the cardholder 1 mayregister with the card provider 3, may request a STN 15, and, inresponse thereto, will receive from the card provider 3 a STN 15 that isassociated with his PCC 20. The front end 13 system also utilizes atleast one application server 5 that processes incoming information,applies the appropriate business rules/condition sets as necessary, andgenerates appropriate outgoing responses. The application server 5 isconfigured to support interaction with, inter alia, the user interfacesystem 4 and a STN database 6. An exemplary STN database 6 is arelational database comprising various tables for managing andtranslating a variety of information, such as cardholder 1 profiles,charge card data, transaction data, merchant data, conditions/rules setprofiles, etc. FIG. 9 illustrates two examples of exemplary tableswithin the STN database 6. STN table 166 may contain a variety ofdatabase fields 170 relating to the cardholder's STN account. Thesefields may contain, in addition to general STN 15 and PCC 20 accountinformation, the business rule/condition set profiles associated withuse of the STN 15, A STN Transaction Information Table 168 containsdatabase fields 172 for storing information relating to a particulartransaction. As a skilled programmer can appreciate, the processingmechanisms and data structure methods can be structured in a variety ofways. In short, the user interface system 4, application server 5, andthe STN database 6 are suitably connected to facilitate the generationand issuance of a STN 15 and are further associated with a cardauthorization system (CAS) 7, in order to process from the merchant 2 anauthorization request involving a STN 15.

When processing a merchant's request for settlement, i.e., to be paidfor a transaction, the financial capture (FINCAP) 10 system receives andcaptures the financial information (e.g., transaction amount, date,merchant identification (SE) number, STN 15, etc.). The back endapplication service 8 interfaces with the STN transaction system 18, asnecessary, to determine if the number is a valid STN 15 (i.e., not aphony number). If the STN 15 is valid, the AP system 9 pays the merchant2. The STN database 6 is updated to reflect the transaction information.The STN transaction system 18 (or alternatively the backend applicationservice 8) substitutes the PCC 20 number for the STN 15 and forwards tothe AR system II for billing.

Although the present system for facilitating transactions may existwithin one card provider system, exemplary embodiments contemplate usewith other third party authorization and settlement systems andnetworks. FIGS. 8 and II, for example, depict third party authorizationnetworks (FIG. II, 91 and 92) and settlement networks (FIG. 8, 93-95)that may be integrated to form parts and/or processes of the presentinvention. Exemplary processes of the present invention are discussed ingreater detail below.

Two exemplary screen shots relating to an exemplary registration processare shown at FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 depicts a splash page for an AmericanExpress® Private PaymentsSM program. The Private PaymentsSM program isan exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Here, a new user 23may enroll to use the program or an existing user may access a number ofprogram features 25, e.g., review account, request a new STN 15 numberor download software. The cardholder 1 generally enters this site byentering an appropriate card provider URL into her browser, by clickingon a link provided by a merchant's website, or alternatively, by anautomatic pop-up feature that may appear upon recognizing particular URLor HTML codes.

To enroll (or register), the cardholder 1 is linked to a registrationpage (FIG. 4) and prompted for information. Information may include thecardholders name 30, email address 31, card account number 32 (e.g., PCC20), last four digits of social security number 33, cardholder's date ofbirth 34, etc. Any suitable authenticating information will suffice. Byselecting “continue,” the cardholder 1 is provided with a username andpassword, or preferably, the cardholder is allowed to select her ownusername and password. The user interface system 4 processes thisinformation and suitably interfaces with the STN transaction system 18(FIG. 8) to register the cardholder. As one of skill in this art willappreciate, registration may take many forms and may be accomplished ina variety of ways. For example, a card provider 3 may choose toautomatically enroll all new charge card applicants and return to thecardholder a username and password with the physical credit card.Although FIGS. 3 and 4 show an online registration process, it should beappreciated that this process may take place via any suitable userinterface system.

In one embodiment, during the registration process, the cardholder 1 maychoose to select or define various parameters, preferences, and programsto tailor the transaction system to the cardholder's particular needs.Additional embodiments allow the cardholder 1 to select or defineparameters, preferences or programs at any point in the transactionprocess. In other words, the cardholder 1 has the flexibility to selectparameters each time (e.g., during registration, log-in, upon STNrequest, etc.) a STN 15 is generated or may apply universal parametersto every STN 15 generated. With these selections, for example, thecardholder 1 may (i) designate a specific credit card to function as theprimary charge card number; (ii) associate the transaction system withother programs such as a non-currency based membership rewards program,an online digital wallet, an online shopping gateway (e.g., AmericanExpress's “ShopAMEX”), an online gift check program (e.g. E-Gift),preferred buyer's programs, etc.; (iii) provide password protectedaccess to family members; (iv) activate a smartcard feature allowingremote random generation of secondary transaction numbers; (v) designatecell phone, email or pager numbers to utilize with the voice orautomated response secondary transaction number generation feature; (vi)and other banking and transaction features that may be apparent to thoseskilled in the art. For more information on loyalty systems, transactionsystems, electronic commerce systems and digital wallet systems, see,for example, the Shop AMEX™ system as disclosed in Ser. No. 60/230,190filed Sep. 5, 2000; the MR as Currency™ System disclosed in Ser. No.60/200,492 filed Apr. 28, 2000 and Ser. No. 60/201,114 filed May 2,2000; Wireless MR as disclosed in Ser. No. 60/192,197,296 filed on Apr.14, 2000; a digital wallet system disclosed in U.S. Ser. No. 09/652,899filed Aug. 31, 2000; a stored value card as disclosed in Ser. No.09/241,188 filed on Feb. 1, 1999, all of which are herein incorporatedby reference.

A registered cardholder 1 generally accesses the card provider'stransaction system by logging into the system via any suitable userinterface system 4. FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary online log-in screen130, where the cardholder 1 is prompted for authenticating informationsuch as a username 132 and password 134. Alternative systems contemplateauthentication via any suitable user interface system. For example, anembodiment employing a portable data device such as a smart cardfacilitates authentication by swiping the smart card through a smartcard reader and providing the appropriate PIN. After entering theappropriate authenticating information and clicking the log in button135, the information is routed through the user interface system 4(e.g., web server) to the application server 5, where, as shown in FIG.5, the application server 5 retrieves information relating to thecardholder's account from the STN database 6. If the cardholder 1 hasregistered multiple charge card accounts, in one embodiment 136, asdepicted in FIG. 6, the program prompts the cardholder 1 to choose froma list of accounts from a pull-down menu 138. The cardholder 1 thenselects˜least one account to be the primary account or to be included ina primary group of accounts (when it is desired for the STN 15 to beassociated with more than one account). In other embodiments, the userinterface system 4 (e.g., web server) will return additional options forthe cardholder 1, such as prompting the cardholder 1 to choose fromseveral condition fields such as those previously mentioned (e.g.,restricting use to a particular merchant, amount, allowing use by otherrecipients, etc.).

An exemplary online transaction process begins with a cardholder 1desiring to purchase products or services from an online merchant'swebsite. In this exemplary online system, the cardholder 1 selectsproducts from a merchant's online website 2, is routed or clicks to themerchant's payment page 2 a (FIG. 5). The cardholder 1 is hyperlinked(manually or automatically) to a card provider's web site to log in 130(FIG. 5), which resides on and is managed by the card provider's userinterface system 4 (e.g., web server), and, upon logging in, obtains aSTN 15 that may then be “cut and pasted,” “dragged and dropped” (oralternatively, automatically filled by the card provider 3 or downloadedfrom a digital wallet) into the payment fields 144, 146, 148 (FIG. 7) onthe payment web page 2 b (FIG. 7). In alternative embodiments, thesystem includes one or more of the following: the card provider 3 sendsthe STN 15 directly to the merchant 2, the STN 15 is encrypted orencoded, the cardholder 1 enters additional security numbers or otherindicia or a biometric sample is required from the card provider 3. Inan exemplary embodiment, the STN 15, as will be discussed next, isgenerated by the card provider's application server 5 and STN database6.

After authenticating a cardholder 1 during the log-in process, andreceiving a request for a STN 15, the process begins for generating aSTN 15. The user interface system 4 prompts the initiation of the numbergeneration process in the STN transaction system 18. In an exemplaryrandom number generation process, the STN 15 is generated (preferablyimmediately) and provided to the cardholder 1 (preferablycontemporaneous with the cardholder's request). As previously noted,this allows the number to be usable immediately upon receipt by thecardholder 1 without the need for separate activation (although separateactivation features are contemplated by the present invention), whileminimizing any increased risk of theft or fraud.

An exemplary random number generation process is depicted in FIG. 10. Inthis exemplary embodiment, each card provider 3 (FIG. 1) is generallyidentified by a range of numbers on the physical card, typically calledthe bank identification number (BIN). Each card possesses a productidentifier (e.g., first 6 digits. BIN, etc) that is not part of therandom number generation process, but in order to initiate the process,this number must first be selected (step 40). It may be preferable for acard provider 3 to set aside a set of product identification numbersrelating to secondary transaction numbers for specific use with thetransaction system. Alternatively, however, some card providers may findit desirable to use the same BIN number designation for both STNS 15 andregular charge card numbers so that one cannot distinguish between thetwo types of numbers. As depicted in HG. 10, a random eight digit numberis generated by the card provider's application server 5 using analgorithmic process (step 41). The application server 5 verifies thatthe randomly generated number is available (i.e., it is not in use norhas it been used within a certain period of time) (step 42). If thetransaction number is free (i.e., not in use), a check digit and theselected product identification number is appended to the number (step43). This newly created STN 15 is then associated with the cardholder'sPCC 20 and is provided to the cardholder 1 (step 45), whereupon the STNdatabase 6 is updated to reflect that this particular STN 15 is in useand associated with a PCC 20 account, if during step 42, it isdetermined that the number is in use, the number generation process isrepeated up to a preset number of times (e.g., 3) (step 44). Afterattempting and failing to generate a non-used random number for a presetnumber of times, a non-used random number is physically selected fromthe STN database 6 (step 46).

After the STN 15 is generated, conditions of use parameters are applied,and are associated with the PCC 20, the STN 15 is then distributed(i.e., issued) to a cardholder 1 for use in facilitating a transaction.Communication of the STN 15 may occur via a number of use interfacesystems 4. For example, FIG. 7 depicts an exemplary online interfacewhere the STN 15 (Private Payment number) is returned to the cardholder1. This embodiment shows how the card provider window 140 overlays amerchant's online payment page 2 b. The cardholder 1 selects theappropriate charge card (e.g., American Express®) from the credit typefiled 144. The cardholder 1 is then able to “cut and paste” or “drag anddrop” the STN 15 (present in the STN field 142) into the credit cardfield 146 on the webpage 2 b. Finally, the cardholder 1 chooses theappropriate expiration date 148 and completes the transaction byselecting the “purchase now” button 150. Although this embodimentdescribes linking to a card provider's web site to receive a STN 15, anadditional embodiment configures the user interface 4 (e.g., web server)and STN transaction system 18 to seamlessly interact with the merchant'swebsite to eliminate the need to separately link to the card provider 3.In this instance, the generation and issuance of the STN 15 would usethe merchant 2 as a gateway to the card provider 3. Any number ofinterface systems 4 can be used to facilitate the processes describedabove (FIG. 2 steps 100, 105, 110).

For example, as just described, distribution of the STN 15 may occur viaa “server to desktop” arrangement where a connection is establishedbetween the card provider's web-server 4 and the cardholder's 1 desktopcomputer, using SSL 3.0. With this exemplary system, the number isgenerated by the application server 5 (according to an algorithmicprocessing feature) utilizing a random number generation process such asthat previously described and delivered to the web server 4. The numberis then displayed on the cardholder's 1 desktop. While pre-registrationis not required, in an exemplary embodiment, a cardholder 1 will havepreviously registered at the card provider's 3 online web site providingall required personal information, primary charge card account numbers,and establishing a cardholder 1D and password (if not alreadyestablished). The cardholder 1D and password are then used forverification of cardholder 1 identity when logging into the cardprovider's web server 4.

Distribution of STNs 15 may also occur via a “server to IVR”arrangement, where a cardholder 1 calls the card provider 3 in order toobtain a STN 15. In this exemplary embodiment, a voice response menuenables the cardholder 1 to choose the transaction option, and allowsthe cardholder 1 to enter a main account number. Once identity isverified, a link to the application server 5 is established, promptinggeneration and delivery of a STN 15 over the phone. In this embodiment,the cardholder 1 provides authenticating information by providing dateof birth (DOB), a PIN, etc. Once this verification number is matched tocustomer's records, the STN 15 is distributed. Of course, this processwould also work with a live operator arrangement.

Additional distribution embodiments include a number of differentdelivery vehicles and/or portable data devices, such as use of wirelessdevices, smart chip encoded devices, personal digital assistants (PDAs),pagers, interactive IVs, etc. For example, a “server to wireless device”is used where a wireless phone with internet browser is able to accessthe card provider's transaction site via the card provider's onlineservice web site. The STN 15 can be delivered via text or voice.Additionally, with the use of encryption keys, the wireless device canbe used as payment vehicles (e.g., STN 15 is delivered from thecardholder 1 to merchant 2 or other customer with Blue Tooth or otherbeaming technology). Again, verification of identity can be accomplishedby a variety of means, including cardholder ID and password, DOB, PINnumber, SIM cards in phones, etc.

Another exemplary embodiment of the transaction system, utilizing one ormore of the distribution arrangements above, includes situations where aPoint of Sale terminal (POS) is not present (e.g., submitting a STN 15to a merchant 2 such as, for example, a plumber at home). In thisexemplary embodiment, the cardholder 1 may not have cash or may not wantto provide her PCC 20 number to the vendor due to concerns aboutunauthorized re-use. As such, the cardholder 1 calls the card provider 3seeking to obtain a STN 15 with either pre-defined conditions of use orcardholder determined conditions of use. A voice recognition system asksfor a PCC 20 number, the amount she wants to authorize, a merchant ID(e.g., SE number), or any other conditions of use. The voice recognitionsystem communicates with the application server 5 and, alternatively,also CAS 7, to generate the STN 15. The STN 15 is then transmitted tothe cardholder 1 who in turn provides to the merchant 2. Additionally,the merchant 2 can also receive, if desired, an immediate call from thevoice response unit to provide an approval code. One skilled in the artwill appreciate that this system can be used in association withlandline phones, cellular phones, pagers, handheld computers or anyother PDA devices.

Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention utilizes a smartcard system or similar portable data device to generate and/ordistribute a STN 15 to the card provider I or merchant 2. The smart cardmay facilitate the generation of a STN 15 in a number of different ways.In one embodiment, the smart card device itself generates the STN 15from a self-contained processing chip. In another embodiment, the smartcard interfaces with the card provider's user interface system 4 tocause the card provider 3 to generate a number. In another embodiment,the smart card supports interaction with a merchant's transactionprocessing system. “Smart card” is referred to herein to include anymicrochip enabled transaction card that is capable of being read by asmart card reader, and is also referred herein to generally refer to anyportable data device that is capable of processing information. In anonline embodiment, the cardholder 1 installs a smart card reader andassociated software to be used with the cardholder's computer systemthat is capable of connecting to the internet. When desiring to make anonline purchase, the cardholder 1 swipes or inserts his smart cardthrough a card reader and enters an appropriate PIN. Once properlyauthenticated, the card provider transaction system generates and issuesa STN 15 to the cardholder 1. In another embodiment, the merchant 2 mayhave a smart card reader capable of interfacing with the card holder'ssmart card. In this embodiment, the cardholder 1 swipes or inserts thesmart card through the merchant's reader, a PIN is entered and the STN15 is displayed to the merchant 2. Additional information relating tosmart card and smart card reader payment technology is disclosed in Ser.No. 60/232,040, flied on Sep. 12, 2000, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,742,845;5,898,838 and 5,905,908, owned by Datascape; which are herebyincorporated by reference.

With an exemplary online smart card embodiment, the cardholder 1interfaces with the card provider's user interface system 4 (e.g.,website) and registers the smart card for use with the transactionsystem option. The cardholder 1 downloads a program and the program isstored on the cardholder's computer. A STN transaction icon (e.g.,Private PaymentsSM button) appears on the cardholder's browser or anicon appears on the display (e.g., Microsoft Windows® system tray). Thisbutton, driven by a card provider specific application (activator) thatresides on the cardholder's computer, appears each time the cardholder 1launches the browser (or alternatively the button appears at anypredetermined intervals, cycles or URLs).

The cardholder 1 suitably links to an online shopping site, orders aproduct or service or fills a shopping cart and goes to the paymentpage. The cardholder 1 clicks the STN payments button on the browser orthe icon on the display (or the activator automatically launches the STNbutton) and a pop-up window appears, asking the cardholder 1 to enterthe smart card into the smart card reader and, in a preferredembodiment, enter his PIN number. In an alternative embodiment, a PINmay not be necessary. In another embodiment, any other security data orfunctionality may be included. Upon entering this information, the STN15 will be generated by the card provider's STN transaction system 18(FIG. 8), or, in another embodiment (discussed below) will be generateddirectly from the smart card chip; and a pop-up screen containing theSTN 15 number will be displayed on the computer. The cardholder 1 then“drags and drops” or “cuts and pastes” the randomly generated STN 15 andother transaction information (e.g., card type, expiration date) intothe online order form and completes the transaction. In an alternativeembodiment, the STN 15 and other transaction information areautomatically filled into the web shopping page by the card provider'sweb server.

Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention integrates a smartcard with an online merchant's website, which may or may not be utilizedby the cardholder 1. For example, in one aspect of this embodiment thesmart card cardholder goes to a merchant website and a “smartchip”payments checkout button appears on the credit card payments page. Thecard provider's transaction system will be invoked if the card holder 1checks out via the smartchip payments button. In a preferred embodiment,the transaction system option is “behind the scenes.” The cardholder 1goes to an online shopping site, orders a product or service or fills ashopping cart and goes to checkout page. The cardholder 1 clicks thesmartchip payments button on the browser and a pop-up window appears,asking the cardholder 1 to enter the smart card into the smart cardreader and, optionally, enter his PIN number. Upon entering thisinformation, the system logs the cardholder 1 into smartchip paymentscheckout process. The cardholder 1 will hit “check out” and thesmartchip payments checkout process may auto-generate and auto-fill theSTN 15 and transaction information into the appropriate payment field(an applet may be read off of the smartcard to transfer number tomerchant site.) In this embodiment, the STN 15 will be auto-generatedoff the chip, where the smart card chip may use the Java or Multosoperating systems and may use a random number generating algorithm. Inone embodiment, the smart card chip is able to access the cardprovider's transaction system or, alternatively, contain a pool ofpossible numbers (in order to avoid generating the same number twice).The number is also need sent back to the STN transaction system 18 inorder to match the PPC 20 number with the STN 15.

In another embodiment using a smart card, a secure electronictransaction (SET) protocol is used to avoid or minimize system/servercontact. In this embodiment, the PCC 20 number is on the chip but isencoded. The SET protocol is preferably an encryption algorithm on thechip where part of the initial data would be the cardholder's PCC 20number. The algorithm could be decoded by the card provider 3 but not bythe merchant 2 to come up with the real account number. In oneembodiment, the merchant 2 routes the authorization to the card providervia a BIN number rather than the PCC 20 number. When the transaction issent from the merchant 2 to the card provider 3 for authorization, theCAS 7 preferably triggers the decode algorithm to complete the process,linking the STN 15 to the PCC 20 account.

Another embodiment contemplates the use of the STN 15 with a transpondersystem comprising a first means for generating or storing a signal thatincludes an encoded STN 15 and a second means for reading or receivingthe signal. In an exemplary embodiment, a cardholder 1 waves a smalltransponder unit in front of the merchant's 2 receiving unit. The STN 15information can be sent/received by a number of known methods (e.g.optical, magnetic, infrared, radio frequency, etc). The merchant 2reader captures the STN 15 and forwards the STN 15 (with the associatedtransaction information) to the card provider's CAS 7 as previouslydescribed. The transponder units may be set up in a number of ways. Eachtransponder device may hold one STN 15 with certain predefinedparameters or each transponder device may have several STNs 15.

Referencing FIGS. I and II, after the secondary transaction number (STN15) is provided to the merchant 2, the merchant 2 submits anauthorization request to the card provider 3, as it would with any othercredit card transaction. This request is routed to a card authorizationsystem (CAS) 7 for authorization (step 80). The CAS 7 recognizes thetransaction as involving a STN 15 and forwards the transactioninformation to the Authorization Request Listener 77 program on theapplication server 5 (step 81). The Authorization Request Listener 77passes the transaction information to a CAS Authentication Component 78(step 82). The CAS Authentication Component 78 determines if use of theSTN 15 has satisfied the previously defined conditions of useparameters. To determine this, the CAS Authentication component 78 looksto the STN database 6 for the conditions-of-use rules and the primaryCharge card number (PCC 20) that are associated with the particular STN15 (step 83). If the use of the STN 15 complies with the rules of use,the CAS Authentication component 78 returns an authorization message andthe associated PCC 20 to CAS 7 (step 84). CAS 7 then performs anauthorization request for the PPC 20, as is typically done with anyphysical charge card, to ensure that the primary charge card conditions(e.g., credit limit, expiration date, etc.) have been met.

If CAS 7 authorizes use of the PCC 20, the transaction involving the STN15 is approved and an approval code will be generated. However, the PCC20 must first be replaced with the STN 15 and the STN database 6 must beupdated to reflect this transaction data. This is accomplished by CAS 7returning to the CAS Authentication component 78 an approval messagewith the transaction data (step 85) and CAS Authentication component 78forwarding to a reversal processing engine 79 (step 86). The reversalprocessing engine 79 interfaces with the STN database 6 to re-substitutethe STN 15 for the PCC 20 and also to update the STN database 6 toreflect the transaction information (step 87). For example, if theconditions of use parameters associated with the STN 15 authorized twotransactions, this step 87 updates the cardholder account in the STNdatabase 6 to reflect that only one transaction remains. The reversalengine 79 substitutes the PCC 20 with the STN 15 and forwards to CAS 7(step 88). CAS 7 then provides the results to the merchant 2 (step 89).If the CAS Authentication Component 78 does not authorize use under theSTN 15 conditions or if CAS 7 does not authorize use under the PCC 20conditions, the transaction will not be approved. When the useconditions of both the primary charge card and the secondary transactionnumbers are satisfied, the transaction is approved. In this preferredembodiment, however, the STN 15 is not deactivated to preventsettlement. To the contrary, settlement may proceed (as discussed next)even when an authorization was declined.

Additionally, use of other third party networks and systems arecontemplated by the present system. One exemplary system allows a cardprovider 3 to associate STNs to third party accounts, offering the samefraud reduction benefits to external card issuers. Here, in thisexemplary system for authorizing STN, a merchant 2 submits anauthorization request to a card provider 3, CAS 7, recognizing the STN15 forwards the request to application server 5. The conditions of useare checked and the authorization request is modified to substitute theSTN 15 with the associated primary account (PCC 20). In some cases amerchant identifier may be included in the authorization request.Therefore a translation may occur to substitute the card provider 3merchant ID with the corresponding third party card issuer merchant ID.The request is then returned back to CAS 7 for a normal authorization.CAS 7 then recognizes the account as originating from another issuer(third party issuer 92), forwards the authorization request to a thirdparty issuer's network for processing (step 84 a). The network 91 routesthe request to the appropriate third party issuer 92 for anauthorization determination. The third party issuer 92 processes theauthorization request and returns the result to CAS 7 for forwardingback to application server 5 (step 84 b). Application server 5 saves theauthorization result (approval or denial) and substitutes the PCC 20with the STN 15 and returns to CAS 7 for forwarding to the merchant 2.

The authorization and settlement processes may occur as separate stepsor as a single step. In one embodiment, referred to herein as anelectronic data capture (EDC) system, the merchant 2 sends anauthorization request and if the authorization request is approved, areceipt of charges is created and submitted for the merchant 2. Separatesequences of file transmissions or messages are therefore not required.Various embodiments, hybrids, and modifications of these processesshould be apparent to one skilled in this art.

Prior art systems typically deactivate a temporary transaction numberduring the authorization process if limited-use conditions are not met.As previously explained, because of the uncertainty and variability ofthe authorization processing, this often results in a transactionnumbers being unintentionally deactivated, thereby bringing thetransaction processing to a sudden halt. An exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention overcomes this problem by not “deactivating” thesecondary transaction number when predetermined conditions are not met.But instead, allowing the transaction to proceed through settlement,albeit without a valid approval code, where the merchant bears the riskthat the amount will later be charged hack by the card provider 3 if thetransaction is disputed by the cardholder 1.

An exemplary settlement process of this invention involves the backendsystems shown in FIG. 8. Specifically, referencing FIGS. 1 and 8, thebackend process utilizes a financial capture system (FINCAP) 10 tocapture the settlement information (e.g., receipt of charges “ROC” andsummary of charges “SOC”) from the merchant 2, a backend applicationservice 8 to ensure that proper account information is processed, anaccounts payable system 9 to pay the merchant 2, and an accountsreceivable system 11 to process the account statement that is providedto the cardholder 1. An exemplary embodiment of the settlement processinvolves a settlement request being made by a merchant 2 for atransaction involving a STN 15. All settlement requests are forwarded tothe card provider's back end system 14 for processing where the requestis initially sent to FINCAP 10. FINCAP 10 captures the ROC and SOC dataand identifies, via the card product identifier (or by any othersuitable means), the transaction as involving a STN 15. In anotherembodiment, the product identifier (or BIN number) does notdifferentiate between a STN 15 and a regular charge card number. In thatinstance, it will be necessary for FINCAP 10 to call the backendapplication service 8 (which interfaces with the STN database 6) toidentify the STN 15 from other charge numbers. After the STN 15 isdistinguished from the ordinary physical charge cards, FINCAP 10verifies that the number is valid (i.e., exists in the STN database 6).If the STN 15 is a valid number, FINCAP 10 creates a payment (accountspayable) file including the transaction data and sends a payment messageto the AP system 9 instructing the merchant 2 to be paid. In paying themerchant 2, the card provider 3 references only the STN 15 and does notrelease the PCC 20 or any other regular charge card numbers.

The back-end system 14 processes the cardholder 1 STN accountinformation as follows. After capturing the transaction information (ROCand SOC) from the merchant 2, FINCAP 10 creates a cardholder account(accounts receivable) file and sends a message to the back-endapplication service 8 to process the information for cardholder billing.Recognizing that the transaction involves a STN 15, the back-endapplication service 8 replaces the STN 15 with the PCC 20, updates thecardholder STN account information in the STN database 6 to reflect theappropriate transaction settlement information, and processes thetransaction as with any other transaction. The backend applicationservice 8 sends the transaction details to the AR system 11, where theAR system 11 sends the proper statement to the cardholder 1, typicallyreferencing only the PCC 20 number. In another embodiment, the AR system11 may process the statement where the transactions are furthercategorized and itemized by both the PCC 20 number and the STN 15.

As previously noted, it may often be the case with prior art systemsthat the temporary transaction number is inadvertently deactivatedduring the authorization phase and completion of the transaction is notpossible, multiple payment purchases. The present transaction systemovercomes this problem by ensuring that valid transaction numbers willbe processed. If the conditions-of-use parameters are not met, thecardholder 1 is, under an exemplary embodiment of the present system,able to dispute the transaction and have the transaction charged back tothe merchant 2 during the dispute handling process (discussed next).During this dispute handling phase, the card provider 3 will retrieveinformation from the STN database 6 to determine if the disputedinformation was “authorized”, i.e., has an associated approval code. Ifthe transaction was not “authorized” because the conditions of useparameters were not satisfied, the amount will be charged back to themerchant 2 according to predefined business rules.

Another embodiment provides for checking the approval codes and otherconditions during settlement. Here, transaction information (approvalcode, SE number, or other information) may be checked during settlement.For example, the backend application service 8 (or the applicationserver 5) may compare transaction information to a business rule orconditions set associated with a cardholder 1 STN account. If conditionsof use have not been met or if a valid approval code is missing, theservice 8 or server 5 may cause a charge back to be issued to themerchant to offset the previous merchant payment. In other words, inthis alternative embodiment, where an STN 15 transaction is processedthrough settlement, the following events may occur in sequence. First, apayment file is established once it is determined that the STN 15 is avalid number. Second, the merchant is paid. Third, the system appliesthe business rules or conditions for the particular account associatedwith the STN 15. Fourth, if it is determined that the merchant 2 shouldnot have been paid in the first instance because the transactionconditions were not met or an approval code was not present, the systemwill execute a charge back to the merchant 2. This settlement processingmay be transparent to the cardholder 1 since, before the AR systemreleases a cardholder billing statement, the merchant is paid and thencharged-back resulting in no outstanding balance to the cardholder 1.

As shown in FIG. 8, the present invention contemplates the interactionof clearing and settlement systems other than those of the card provider3. This exemplary system allows a card provider 3 to clear and settleSTN transactions where an STN 15 is associated to a third party account,meaning that the merchant 2 is paid and the charge is billed to thecardholder 1. As such, an exemplary embodiment of the present inventionis configured to support interaction with third party networks andsystems. Here, the backend application service 8, upon receiving a STN15, recognizes that the associated PCC 20 originated with another cardissuer 92. The backend service 8 separates the transaction into twotransactions (a clearing transaction and a settlement transaction). Asubstitution occurs in the clearing transaction where the STN 15 isreplaced by the associated PCC 20. Also, a translation may occur tosubstitute the card provider 3 merchant ID with the corresponding thirdparty card issuer ID. The transactions are then forwarded to a thirdparty clearing and settlement network 93. The third party clearing andsettlement network 93 handles the routing, as appropriate, to a merchantacquirer's accounts payable system 91 and an issuer's accountsreceivable system 92. As noted above, the accounts payable systemensures that all correspondence with the merchant 2 references the STN15.

The dispute handling process of the present invention involvessituations where a cardholder 1 or merchant 2 disputes charge that isassociated with a transaction involving a STN 15. Generally, acardholder 1 disputes a charge by contacting the charge card provider 3via phone, mail, or internet. As previously noted, an exemplary ARsystem 11 typically bills the cardholder 1 with reference to only thePCC 20 number. The computer systems of the present invention allow thecard provider's customer service representatives to lookup informationbased on, inter alia, the STN 15 or the PCC 20 number. FIG. 12 depictsan exemplary look-up screen 175 for reviewing the primary charge cardaccount 20 and the transactions associated with the STNs 15.

With respect to a cardholder initiated dispute, the representativeinitiates a dispute through a dispute handling system (DHS) to obtainthe case avoidance or case set rules for cardholder disputedtransactions. One of the case avoidance or case set rules provides for alook up from the STN database 6 to verify that the transaction wasprocessed with an approval code. The rule set may provide for, interalia, an automatic charge back of the transaction amount to the merchantif an STN 15 transaction is submitted without an approval code. The DHSor the representative initiates a cardholder 1 or merchant 2 contact(via phone, mail, internet). Disputes involving STNs 15 may beautomatically routed to predefined STN queues based on industry type(i.e., airline, car rental, etc). Contact letters may be automaticallyfilled with information retrieved from the STN database 6. Theadjustment file accesses the application server 5 (or backendapplication service 8) to substitute the PCC 20 number with the STN 15.A letter file is then generated and an electronic transmission systemroutes electronic contacts to and from various merchant interfaces.

In an exemplary system for handling disputes from merchant 2, a merchant2 contacts the card provider 3 via normal channels. The card provider'srepresentative generally accesses a customer service application that isused to service merchants. This customer service application identifiesthe account by a STN 15 in dispute. A case is set-up with the STN 15 andis managed via adjustment management systems. The adjustment managementsystem and a letter generating system access the STN transaction system18 for the account number swap, where the PCC 20 number is replaced withthe STN 15 for financial adjustments intended for the cardholder 1. Theremaining inquiry is processed as with existing dispute handlingsystems.

Although the previously described embodiments generally relate to acardholder's 1 request for a STN 15, the merchant 2 may also find itdesirable to request secondary transaction numbers from the cardprovider 3 in order to limit exposure to credit card fraud. Intraditional transaction processes, upon completing a transaction, themerchant 2 stores transaction information (including the customer'scredit card number) in a merchant database. This database of informationis subject to credit card fraud in that a thief could hack into themerchant's computers to steal its customer's credit card numbers. Tolimit exposure, the merchant 2 may desire to replace those customercredit card numbers with STNs 15 that are associated with thecardholder's primary credit card number (e.g., PCC 20), i.e., themerchant may not want its database filled with actual customer creditcard numbers. In this situation, only the card provider 3 maintains theactual credit card number and the merchant 2 retains only the STN 15. Inan exemplary process, the merchant receives a regular credit card numberfrom a cardholder 1 to facilitate a transaction. The merchant 2 submitsthe number to a card provider 3 for authorization, requesting that thecard provider 3 instead of returning the regular credit card number,return a STN 15 (and approval code) that is associated with the regularcredit card. In response, the card provider generates a STN 15,associates the number to the regular credit card number (which becomesthe primary account (e.g., PCC 20)), checks to see if authorization isappropriate and returns the authorization record (only referencing theSTN 15) to the merchant 2. The merchant 2 processes the transactionthrough the normal settlement channels, referencing the STN 15 insteadof the regular credit card number. When retaining transaction records,the merchant 2 replaces the primary credit card number with the STN 15and maintains the STN 15 in its database.

in another embodiment, the merchant 2 accepts only STNs 15—not regularcredit card numbers—from cardholders to complete transactions. For thesame reasons stated above, the merchant 2 may desire to limit receipt ofregular charge card numbers to limit exposure to credit card fraud. Inone exemplary embodiment, the merchant 2 computer system differentiatesbetween STNs and regular charge card numbers and will not allowcustomers to use regular charge card numbers to facilitate a transaction(i.e., will refuse the transaction). As previously described, however,the STN 15 and the regular charge card may be transparent to themerchant 2 making it difficult for the merchant 2 to differentiatebetween the STN 15 and the regular charge card. In this situation, in anexemplary embodiment, the STN 15 will be identified during theauthorization process by the card provider 3, where if the STN 15 doesnot meet certain conditions defined by the merchant 2, the transactionwill not be authorized. For example, the merchant could require that allcustomer transactions be completed with a STN 15 that has limited-useconditions restricting use to the amount of the transaction orrestricting use to the particular merchant. During the authorizationprocess, the STN 15 is compared with the merchant-defined conditionswhere if the conditions are not satisfied, the authorization requestwill be denied. After completion of the transaction, and upon satisfyingthe merchant 2 conditions, the STNs 15 have little to no value and wouldbe of minimal value to a potential thief. Several additional embodimentsof the transaction system are provided below.

In one embodiment, the STN database 6 is used to facilitate the mergingof a newly acquired cardholder base with an established cardholder base.For example, when a bank or other institution sells a cardholder base toa card provider 3, the card provider 3 creates new physical accounts forthe acquired cardholders and does not issue new cards. The STN database6 is updated to associate the acquired cardholder account numbers to thenewly created accounts. This allows the cardholders' existing physicalcards to still be used and processed appropriately. The card provider(BIN) routing is modified for the acquired accounts so authorizationrequests and settlements are sent to the card provider 3 instead of tothe bank or other institution. CAS 7 and FINCAP 10 recognize theseacquired accounts as STN 15 accounts and translate the numbersappropriately. The end result is that charges made by the acquiredcardholders end up on a statement generated by the card provider 3.

In another exemplary embodiment of the transaction system, a cardprovider 3 may provide a line of credit to a customer or to a merchant 2or group of merchants who can private label for use by their customers.This allows the merchant 2 to provide a branded line of credit withminimal or no changes to the credit card authorization and settlementprocess. In one embodiment, the merchant 2 approves a line of credit orasks the card provider 3 to approve a line of credit for the customer.The card provider would then issue a STN 15 to the customer via themerchant 2. This STN 15 is generally used with the merchants 2 who areissuing the line of credit. When the customer wants to make a purchaseusing the merchant's line of credit, the merchant forwards a standardcredit request to the card provider 3 with the STN 15 used as the creditcard number in the transaction protocol. The card provider 3 verifiesthat the line of credit is authorized and was submitted by the merchant2 issuing the line of credit associated with this STN 15. The cardprovider transaction system (via the STN transaction system 18) iscapable of denying usage of this line of credit at anothernon-participating site. The card provider 3 may provide a private labelor co-branded web, site to apply for the line of credit. The cardprovider's back end system 14 then bills the customer and pays themerchant. The merchant 2 may keep the electronic line of creditprivately at their site, or provide it to the customer, theauthorization system would not authorize usage at other sites.

FIG. 13 depicts an exemplary transaction process for use in providinglines of credit to merchants 2. A cardholder 1 or customer (who may ormay not be an existing card member of the participating card provider 3)applies for an electronic line of credit (ELOC) with a merchant 2 (step221), the merchant 2 redirects the cardholder 1 to the card provider's 3website to till out the ELOC application 30 (step 222). A fraud check 31is performed (step 223) and a credit inquiry is typically performed byany credit bureau company 33 (step 224). If a card processing system 32determines that credit is acceptable, an account is set up (step 225). Aphysical card 34 is not generated as with typical processes and may needto be purged depending on the particular system set-up (step 226). Theaccount is sent to the account management system 35 (step 227) and thenforwarded to the STN database 6 and the application server 5 (step 228).The cardholder 1 account is then related to a valid merchantidentification number such as the SE number 36 (step 229). An account isthen set-up with a ELOC profile 37 and at this point the secondarytransaction ELOC number is passed back to the cardholder 1 (step 230).The merchant 2 submits the ELOC payment request to CAS 7 (step 231), andCAS 7 routes the ELOC to the STN system (step 232), where the STN systemverifies that the SE number is approved for this particular ELOC (step233). The STN system translates the ELOC STN to the related account inthe account management system and returns the ELOC STN to merchant (step234). The merchant is then required to submit the authorization codewith the receipt of charges (ROC) and summary of charges (SOC). Themerchant submits the ROC and/or SOC to the card provider's FINCAP 10(step 235), whereupon FINCAP forwards the ELOC to the STN system (step236). The STN system verifies that (i) this SE number is valid for theparticular ELOC account (step 237) and (ii) the particular transactionwas authorized for the specific ELOC account (step 238). The STN systemthen flips the card number, returns it to FINCAP 10, whereupon, thenumber is forwarded to the card provider's accounts receivable system 11(step 239). FINCAP forwards the ELOC STN and associated information tothe Accounts Payable system 9 (step 240) and pays the merchant 2 (step241).

Another exemplary embodiment allows a cardholder to fund an onlinedigital wallet with the secondary transaction number. In thisembodiment, after generation and association with the primary chargecard, the secondary transaction number is provided to the cardholder touse within a designated digital wallet. Which may reside locally at thecardholder's computer or may be stored in an online password protectedaccount.

In yet another alternative embodiment, the secondary transaction systemmay be used to facilitate programs involving non-currency tender, suchas the American Express® Membership Rewards as Currency™ system that isdetailed in U.S. Provisional Application No, 60/200,492, filed on Apr.28, 2000, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/201,114, filed on May2, 2000, which are hereby incorporated by reference. One embodiment ofthis system, depicted in FIG. 14, allows a cardholder 1 to create a STN15 to be used to spend membership rewards points. In general, amembership or incentive rewards program is a loyalty program thatrewards cardholders for using their charge card to make purchases.Cardholders accumulate points by using a participating charge card or bypurchasing products at a participating merchant. These points may thenbe converted to a monetary value and redeemed to purchase merchandise.

As depicted in FIG. 14, a cardholder 1 accesses and logs onto the cardprovider's services via a user interface system 4 (e.g., an interneeconnection) (step 251). The cardholder 1 proceeds (clicks on hyperlink)to the membership rewards (MR) system 95, where she indicates that shewould like to use her membership reward points that are available in herMR account (step 252). The MR system 95 reports to the cardholder 1 howmuch the available MR points are worth (step 253). The cardholder 1indicates how many of the MR points (converted to monetary value) shouldbe loaded info an account that can be used for purchases (step 254). Inan exemplary embodiment, the STN 15 can be associated with a MR account,i.e., a primary charge card account that is funded with these MR points.Use of this MR account may be limited by the card holder 1 or the cardprovider 3, or could be further limited by the MR system rules of usethat may have been predefined by participating merchants (step 255).Once the MR system 95 has approved the request and allocated therequested MR points, the STN system 18 associates a STN 15 andestablishes an MR-STN 15 profile (256). The MR-STN profile contains theoptions that will be applied and the amount that will be available tothe resulting STN 15. The STN system 18 returns the STN 15 (and otheraccount information) to the MR system 95 to provide to the cardholder 1for use in completing subsequent transactions (e.g., online purchases)(step 257).

When desiring to purchase products using the MR point-funded STN 15, thecardholder 1 proceeds to a merchant site (e.g., online website), selectsgoods and is requested by the merchant to provide payment information(e.g., via an online payment web page). The cardholder 1 chooses theappropriate card provider 3 as the form of payment (e.g., AmericanExpress®, Visa®, etc.) and enters the STN 15 (and other neededinformation) into the appropriate payment fields (step 258). Themerchant processes the STN 15 authorization as discussed above (step259), where the card provider CAS 7 recognizes the transaction asinvolving a STN 15, and forwards the request to the STN system 18containing, inter alia, an application server (FIG. 8, number 5) and aSTN database (FIG. 8, number 6). It should be appreciated that profileinformation may be stored in a MR database, STN database 6 or any othersuitable database (step 260). The STN system 18 recognizes the accountas a MR account, and verifies that optional conditions, if any, are met.If the conditions are not met, an error is returned to CAS 7 and then tothe merchant (step 261). If the conditions are met, the balanceavailable on the MR-STN profile is reduced by the purchase amount, arecord of the purchase is recorded in the MR-STN profile, and anapproval code is returned to the authorization system (step 262) andthen to the merchant (step 263). Although additional CAS 7 processing iscontemplated by this embodiment, application of additional rules andvalidations—which would typically be applied—are not required for thistype of account. The approved purchase is finalized by the merchant withthe STN 15 transaction being submitted through the merchant's existingPOS network for settlement (step 264). The STN 15 transaction isreceived by the card provider's financial capture system (FINCAP) 10(step 265). The FINCAP 10 forwards the STN transaction to theappropriate AP system 9 (step 266). The AP system 9 then pays themerchant according to the appropriate settlement terms and conditions(step 267). The FINCAP 10, having identified the transaction asinvolving an STN 15, sends the transaction information to the STN system18 (via a backend application service 8) to identify the actual accountnumber (i.e. PCC 20) (step 268). The STN system 18 recognizes that theSTN 15 is associated with a MR account, searches for the MR-STN profileand passes a credit request to the appropriate cardholder 1 MR accountto reduce the available MR points (step 269), and (ii) the transactionrecord is used to build a credit against the actual charge card account(e.g., PCC 20) that will offset the charged STN 15 transaction (step 269h). In the first instance (step 269), the STN system 18 passes a requestto the MR system 95 to deduct the appropriate number of MR points. Inthe second instance (step 269 b), both the original transaction and thecredit are passed back to FINCAP 10 with the actual charge card accountnumber (e.g., PCC 20 number). The FINCAP 10 then forwards the charge andcredit transactions to the appropriate AR system 11 for normal billingprocessing.

As shown, the embodiment depicted in FIG. 14 allows the cardholder 1 tospend the MR points in at least two ways. First, the membership rewardpoints can be deducted at the time of the transaction processing, orsecond, the transaction can be reflected on the cardholder's bill alongwith an associated credit that reflects the payment with reward points.It should also be appreciated that a cardholder 1 may choose to use MRpoints on a transaction by transaction basis, and preferably, is able tocombine variations of currency (e.g., credit, debit cards etc.) andnon-currency tender (MR points), as desired, to effectuate atransaction. Additionally, both currency and non-currency tender may beintegrated into a STN gift, where a first party gifts to a second partya secondary transaction number that has some currency or non-currencyvalue.

Another membership rewards embodiment is shown in FIG. 15. Here, thecardholder 1 is able to choose to use membership reward points whenshopping at a merchant 2 site that supports the membership rewards as apayment option. Referencing FIG. 15, the cardholder 1 goes to aparticipating merchant's site (e.g., online website) to shop for goodsor services. The cardholder 1 selects merchandise and continues to apayment site, where the card provider's MR points is one of the paymentoptions (step 301). When the cardholder selects this option, a secureconnection is established with the card provider 3 that authenticatesboth the cardholder 1 and the merchant 2 (step 302). The card provider 3requests the cardholder's user ID and Password, either through a pop upscreen, a http redirect link, or an applet downloaded by the merchant(step 303). The cardholder 1 supplies the User ID and Password which isreturned to the card provider with the purchase amount (step 304). Thecard provider user interface 4 (e.g., online services) causes thecardholder 1 to be authenticated, collects the associated registeredcard accounts and invokes the MR system 95 (step 305). The MR system 95uses these card accounts to identify the cardholder's MR account (step306). If none of the registered accounts are related to a MR account,the cardholder 1 is not able to use MR points to pay for her purchaseand an error is returned to the cardholder 1. After identifying the MRaccount, the MR points available are converted to the corresponding cashequivalent and compared to the purchase amount being requested. If thepurchase amount is greater than the MR cash equivalent, an error isreturned to the cardholder 1 (step 307). If the MR cash equivalent isgreater than the purchase amount, all card accounts participating in theMR account are collected and returned to the cardholder 1 (step 308).The cardholder 1 designates the card account to be used to house allsucceeding financial activity, which is then returned to the cardprovider 3 (step 309). The card provider 3 then triggers the STN system18 to establish a STN 15 that is associated to the selected MR accountnumber and a MR-STN account profile is set-up (step 310). The STN system18 returns the STN 15 to the User Interface System 4 and then onto thecardholder 1 (step 311). The cardholder 1 cuts and pastes, drags anddrops, or auto-fills the STN 15 (and needed information) into theappropriate merchant payment field (step 312).

As previously noted, the merchant uses the existing authorizationnetwork to request authorization for the STN transaction (step 313). TheCAS 7 recognizes the transaction as one involving a STN 15 and forwardsto the STN system 18 (step 314). The STN system 18 identifies theassociated actual account number (e.g., PCC 20 number) for the STN 15(step 315) and also recognizes the account as a MR account. At thispoint, although all MR transactions would have been previously verified,the MR account balance is again checked to minimize possible fraud(e.g., fraud involving two requests using the same MR points). The cashequivalent for the MR points for the actual account are then retrievedfrom the MR system 95 and if the purchase amount is greater than theavailable amount, a denial is returned to the authorization system andto the merchant 2 (step 316). If the cash equivalent value of the MRpoints exceeds the purchase amount, the STN system records the purchasein the MR-STN profile and returns the STN 15 to the CAS 7 (step 317).The CAS 7 then completes the authorization for the actual account (e.g.,ensuring that the limits for the PCC 20 are complied with) (step 318),and returns the results (e.g., approval code) to the merchant 2 (step319).

The approved transaction is finalized by the merchant 2 with the STNtransaction being submitted through the existing point of sale networkfor settlement (step 320). As before, the transaction information isreceived by the card provider FINCAP 10 (step 321) and then forwarded tothe appropriate AP system 9 (step 322) for payment (step 323). Since thetransaction involves a STN 15, FINCAP 10 directs the transaction to theSTN system 18 to identify the PCC 20 (step 324). The STN system 18identifies the PCC 20 (step 325) and also recognizes the STN 15 accountis set up using MR points, where the STN system 18 searches the MR-STNprofile for the associated purchase record (step 326). The STN systemeither (i) passes a credit request to MR to reduce the MR points (step326 a), or (ii) creates a credit against the billing transaction (step326 b). In step 326 a, the STN system 18 passes a request to the MRsystem 95 to deduct the appropriate number of MR points. Here it is notnecessary to return the AR transaction information to FINCAP forforwarding to the AR system 11, but a reconciliation entry is created toreconcile the AR for FINCAP 10. In step 326 b, a transaction record isused to build a credit against a real account number (e.g., PCC 20) thatwill offset the charge transaction. The STN system 18 forwards thiscredit to the FINCAP 10. The original billing transaction is returned tothe FINCAP to appear on the cardholder's 1 statement. The FINCAP 10 thenforwards the charge transaction to the appropriate AR system for normalprocessing. The FINCAP 10 forwards the credit issued by the MR system 95to the appropriate AR system 11 for normal billing processing.Accordingly, the cardholder 1 will see on her statement a creditreflecting the currency value of the MR points used and a charge in theamount of the transaction.

Another embodiment provides for the generation of one or more STNs thatare subordinate to and associated with a main secondary transactionnumber that, as described above, is associated with the cardholder's PCC20 account. As noted above, these subordinate numbers may also bedigitally stored in devices such as wireless telephones, PDAs, handheldcomputers, and the like. Providing multiple layers of secondarytransaction number provides the cardholder 1 with greater flexibility.For example, a cardholder on vacation could structure the main STN 15 tobe valid for the duration of the vacation. The cardholder 1 is then ableto generate subordinate secondary transaction numbers (or tertiarynumbers) with varying preferences to take into account variousactivities that may occur during the vacation. A cardholder 1 couldstructure the main secondary transaction number to have a maximum creditlimit of $3,000 (this assumes that the associated primary charge cardcredit limit is equal to or greater than $3,000) that is good for theduration of the vacation. A subordinate secondary transaction number maythen be provided to the spouse with a $1,000 limit and additionalsecondary transaction numbers, restricted to $500 limits, could beprovided to the children. Each subordinate card would be valid only forthe duration of the vacation and would only be valid for the maximumdollar amount specified.

With reference to FIG. 16, system 1600 facilitates interaction between auser 1605 and the Translink System 1655 through, for example, a webclient 1610 with a network connection to an internet server 1620.Internet server 1620 may employ an authentication server 1625 in orderto validate and assign proper permissions to authorized users ofTranslink System 1655. User database 1630 stores user credentials andpermissions specific to each user. Internet server 1620 also employs anapplications server 1635 to manage various applications and utilitiesthat are utilized by the system. Application server 1635 may be astand-alone server or may comprise software residing within intranetserver 1620. ATPT (automated transaction processing tool) utility 1645is invoked by application server 1635 to interact with account database1650, card issuer system 1660, and client backend systems 1675. ATPTutility may further perform data conditioning and formatting forpresentation to user 1605 and for exchange between disparate computingsystems. Account database 1650 maintains data pertaining to activeaccount numbers. While not shown, application server 1635 may furtherinterface with a report engine to create pre-configured and; or ad-hocreports as will be discussed herein.

In addition to the components described above, Translink System 1655 mayfurther include one or more of the following: a host server or othercomputing systems including a processor for processing digital data; amemory coupled to the processor for storing digital data; an inputdigitizer coupled to the processor for inputting digital data; anapplication program stored in the memory and accessible by the processorfor directing processing of digital data by the processor; a displaydevice coupled to the processor and memory for displaying informationderived from digital data processed by the processor; and a plurality ofdatabases. Various databases used herein may include: user database1630; account database 1650; CAS database 1670; AR (accountsreceivable)/AP (accounts payable) database 185, and/or like data usefulin the operation of system 1600.

As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, one or moreof the components of system 1600 may be embodied as a customization ofan existing system, an add-on product, upgraded software, a stand alonesystem (e.g., kiosk), a distributed system, a method, a data processingsystem, a device for data processing, and/or a computer program product.Accordingly, individual system 1600 components may take the form of anentirely software embodiment, an entirely hardware embodiment, or anembodiment combining aspects of both software and hardware. Furthermore,individual system 1600 components may take the form of a computerprogram product on a computer-readable storage medium havingcomputer-readable program code means embodied in the storage medium. Anysuitable computer-readable storage medium may be utilized, includinghard disks, CD-ROM, optical storage devices, magnetic storage devices,and/or the like.

The invention contemplates uses in association with loyalty, incentiveor reward programs, web services, utility computing, pervasive andindividualized computing, security and identity solutions, autonomiccomputing, commodity computing, mobility and wireless solutions, opensource, biometrics, grid computing and/or mesh computing. For example,in an embodiment, the transaction device, reader, and/or transactiondevice-reader system are configured with a biometric security systemthat may be used for providing biometrics as a secondary form ofidentification. The biometric security system may include a transactiondevice and a reader communicating with the system. The biometricsecurity system also may include a biometric sensor that detectsbiometric samples and a device for verifying biometric samples. Thebiometric security system may be configured with one or more biometricscanners, processors and/or systems. A biometric system may include oneor more technologies, or any portion thereof, such as, for example,recognition of a biometric. As used herein, a biometric may include auser's voice, fingerprint, facial, ear, signature, vascular patterns,DNA sampling, hand geometry, sound, olfactory, keystroke/typing, iris,retinal or any other biometric relating to recognition based upon anybody part, function, system, attribute and/or other characteristic, orany portion thereof. For an explanation of systems and methods forproviding a secondary form of identification for transaction completion,please see U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/708,822, titled “SYSTEMFOR BIOMETRIC SECURITY USING A FOB,” filed Mar. 26, 2004; and U.S.patent application Ser. No. 10/708,823, titled “METHOD FOR BIOMETRICSECURITY USING A TRANSPONDER,” filed Mar. 26, 2004, which are herebyincorporated by reference.

User 1605 may include any individual, business, entity, governmentorganization, software and/or hardware that interact with system 1600 torequest account numbers, assign descriptors to account numbers, defineaccount number constraints, and/or the like. User 1605 may be, forexample, a program manager who interacts with system 1600 to requesttransaction account numbers for specific use by an employee of thecorporation. User 1605 may interface with Internet server 1620 via anycommunication protocol, device or method discussed herein, known in theart, or later developed. In one embodiment, user 1600 may interact withTranslink System 1655 via an Internet browser at a web client 1610.

Web client 1610 comprises any hardware and/or software suitablyconfigured to facilitate input, receipt and/or review of informationrelating to account numbers or any information discussed herein. Webclient 1610 includes any device (e.g., personal computer), whichcommunicates (in any manner discussed herein) with Translink System 1655via any network discussed herein. Such browser applications compriseInternet browsing software installed within a computing unit or systemto conduct online transactions and communications. These computing unitsor systems may take the form of a computer or set of computers, althoughother types of computing units or systems may be used, includinglaptops, notebooks, hand held computers, set-top boxes, workstations,computer-servers, main frame computers, mini-computers, PC servers,pervasive computers, network sets of computers, and/or the like.Practitioners will appreciate that web client 1610 may or may not be indirect contact with Translink System 1655. For example, web client 1610may access the services of Translink System 1655 through another server,which may have a direct or indirect connection to intranet server 1620.

As those skilled in the art will appreciate, web client 1610 includes anoperating system (e.g., Windows NT, 95/98/2000, OS2, UNIX, Linux,Solaris, MacOS, etc.) as well as various conventional support softwareand drivers typically associated with computers. Web client 1610 mayinclude any suitable personal computer, network computer, workstation,minicomputer, mainframe or the like. Web client 1610 can be in a home orbusiness environment with access to a network. In an exemplaryembodiment, access is through a network or the Internet through acommercially available web-browser software package.

Web client 1610 may be independently, separately or collectivelysuitably coupled to the network via data links which includes, forexample, a connection to an Internet Service Provider (ISP) over thelocal loop as is typically used in connection with standard modemcommunication, cable modem, Dish networks, ISDN, Digital Subscriber Line(DSL), or various wireless communication methods, see, e.g., GILBERTHELD, UNDERSTANDING DATA COMMUNICATIONS (1996), which is herebyincorporated by reference. It is noted that the network may beimplemented as other types of networks, such as an interactivetelevision (ITV) network.

Firewall 1615, as used herein, may comprise any hardware and/or softwaresuitably configured to protect Translink System 1655 components fromusers of other networks. Firewall 1615 may reside in varyingconfigurations including Stateful Inspection, Proxy based and PacketFiltering among others. Firewall 1615 may be integrated as softwarewithin intranet server 1620, any other system components or may residewithin another computing device or may take the form of a standalonehardware component.

Internet server 1620 may include any hardware and/or software suitablyconfigured to facilitate communications between web client 1610 and oneor more Translink System 1655 components. Further, Internet server 1620may be configured to transmit data to web client 1610 within markuplanguage documents. As used herein, “data” may include encompassinginformation such as commands, queries, files, data for storage, and/orthe like in digital or any other form. Internet server 1620 may operateas a single entity in a single geographic location or as separatecomputing components located together or in separate geographiclocations.

Internet server 1620 may provide a suitable web site or otherInternet-based graphical user interface, which is accessible by users.In one embodiment, the Microsoft Internet Information Server (IIS),Microsoft Transaction Server (MTS), and Microsoft SQL Server, are usedin conjunction with the Microsoft operating system, Microsoft NT webserver software, a Microsoft SQL Server database system, and a MicrosoftCommerce Server. Additionally, components such as Access or MicrosoftSQL Server, Oracle, Sybase, Informix MySQL, InterBase, etc., may be usedto provide an Active Data Object (ADO) compliant database managementsystem.

Any of the communications, inputs, storage, databases or displaysdiscussed herein may be facilitated through a web site having web pages.The term “web page” as it is used herein is not meant to limit the typeof documents and applications that might be used to interact with theuser. For example, a typical web site might include, in addition tostandard HTML documents, various forms, Java applets, JavaScript, activeserver pages (ASP), common gateway, interface scripts (CGI), extensiblemarkup language (XML), dynamic HTML, cascading style sheets (CSS),helper applications, plug-ins, and/or the like. A server may include aweb service that receives a request from a web server, the requestincluding a URL (http://yahoo.com/stockquotes/ge) and an IP address(123.56.789). The web server retrieves the appropriate web pages andsends the data or applications for the web pages to the IP address. Webservices are applications that are capable of interacting with otherapplications over a communications means, such as the Internet. Webservices are typically based on standards or protocols such as XML,SOAP, WSDL and UDDI. Web services methods are well known in the art, andare covered in many standard texts. See, e.g., ALEX NGHIEM, IT WEBSERVICES: A ROADMAP FOR THE ENTERPRISE (2003), hereby incorporated byreference.

Application server 1635 may include any hardware and/or softwaresuitably configured to serve applications and data to a connected webclient 1610. Like Internet server 1620, application server 1635 maycommunicate with any number of other servers, databases and/orcomponents through any means known in the art. Further, applicationserver 1635 may serve as a conduit between web client 1610 and thevarious systems and components of the Translink System 1655. Internetserver 1620 may interface with application server 1635 through any meansknown in the art including a LAN/WAN, for example. Application server1635 may further invoke ATPT utility 1645, data management server 1640,and/or report engine 1665 in response to user 1605 requests.

ATPT utility 1645 may include any hardware and/or software suitablyconfigured to receive requests from web client 1610 via Internet server1620 and application server 1635. ATPT utility 1645 is furtherconfigured to process requests, construct database queries, executequeries against account database 1650, as well as exchange data withcard issuer system 1660 and client backend systems 1675 via middleware1640. In one embodiment, ATPT utility 1645 may be configured to interactwith other Translink System 1655 components to perform complexcalculations, retrieve additional data, format data into reports, createXML representations of data, construct markup language documents, and/orthe like. Moreover, ATPT utility 1645 may reside as a standalone systemor may be incorporated with application server or any other TranslinkSystem 1655 component as program code.

Middleware 1640 may include any hardware and/or software suitablyconfigured to facilitate communications and/or process transactionsbetween disparate computing systems. Middleware components arecommercially available and known in the art. Middleware 1640 may beimplemented through commercially available hardware and/or software,through custom hardware and/or software components, or through acombination thereof. Middleware 1640 may reside in a variety ofconfigurations and may exist as a standalone system or may be a softwarecomponent residing within application server 1635. Middleware 1640 maybe configured to process transactions between ATP utility 1645 and othersystems and components within Translink System 1655 and/or systems andcomponents residing in card issuer systems 1660 and client backendsystems 1675. In one embodiment, middleware 1640 may comprise webservices that are invoked to exchange data between the various disclosedsystems.

In order to control access to application server 1635 or any othercomponent of Translink System 1655, Internet server 1620 may invoke anauthentication server 1625 in response to user 1605 submissions ofauthentication credentials received at intranet server 1620.Authentication server 1625 may include any hardware and/or softwaresuitably configured to receive authentication credentials, encrypt anddecrypt credentials, authenticate credentials, and/or grant accessrights according to pre-defined privileges attached to the credentials.Authentication server 1625 may grant varying degrees of application anddata level access to users based on information stored within userdatabase 1630. For example, a program manager may be granted access torequest account numbers on behalf of an employee and enter descriptors,while the employee may be limited to view account numbers.

User database 1630 may include any hardware and/or software suitablyconfigured to facilitate storing identification, authenticationcredentials, and/or user permissions. Account database 1650 stores datarelating to account numbers, including descriptors, lock status,cancellation date, transaction limits, use parameters, and/or the like.One skilled in the art will appreciate that system 1600 may employ anynumber of databases in any number of configurations. Further, anydatabases discussed herein may be any type of database, such asrelational, hierarchical, graphical, object-oriented, and/or otherdatabase configurations. Common database products that may be used toimplement the databases include DB2 by IBM (White Plains, N.Y.), variousdatabase products available from Oracle Corporation (Redwood Shores,Calif.), Microsoft Access or Microsoft SQL Server by MicrosoftCorporation (Redmond, Wash.), or any other suitable database product.Moreover, the databases may be organized in any suitable manner, forexample, as data tables or lookup tables. Each record may be a singlefile, a series of files, a linked series of data fields or any otherdata structure. Association of certain data may be accomplished throughan desired data association technique such as those known or practicedin the art. For example, the association may be accomplished eithermanually or automatically. Automatic association techniques may include,for example, a database search, a database merge, GREP, AGREP, SQL,using a key field in the tables to speed searches, sequential searchesthrough all the tables and files, sorting records in the file accordingto a known order to simplify lookup, and/or the like. The associationstep may be accomplished by a database merge function, for example,using a “key field” in pre-selected databases or data sectors.

More particularly, a “key field” partitions the database according tothe high-level class of objects defined by the key field. For example,certain types of data may be designated as a key field in a plurality ofrelated data tables and the data tables may then be linked on the basisof the type of data in the key field. The data corresponding to the keyfield in each of the linked data tables is preferably the same or of thesame type. However, data tables having similar, though not identical,data in the key fields may also be linked by using AGREP, for example.In accordance with one aspect of the invention, any suitable datastorage technique may be utilized to store data without a standardformat. Data sets may be stored using any suitable technique, including,for example, storing individual files using an ISO/IEC 7816-4 filestructure; implementing a domain whereby a dedicated file is selectedthat exposes one or more elementary files containing one or more datasets; using data sets stored in individual files using a hierarchicalfiling system; data sets stored as records in a single file (includingcompression, SQL accessible, hashed via one or more keys, numeric,alphabetical by first tuple, etc.); Binary Large Object (BLOB); storedas ungrouped data elements encoded using ISO/IEC 7816-6 data elements;stored as ungrouped data elements encoded using ISO/IEC Abstract SyntaxNotation (ASN.1) as in ISO/IEC 8824 and 8825; and/or other proprietarytechniques that may include fractal compression methods, imagecompression methods, etc.

In one exemplary embodiment, the ability to store a wide variety ofinformation in different formats is facilitated by storing theinformation as a BLOB. Thus, any binary information can be stored in astorage space associated with a data set. As discussed above, the binaryinformation may be stored on the financial transaction instrument orexternal to but affiliated with the financial transaction instrument.The BLOB method may store data sets as ungrouped data elements formattedas a block of binary via a fixed memory offset using either fixedstorage allocation, circular queue techniques, or best practices withrespect to memory management (e.g., paged memory, least recently used,etc.). By using BLOB methods, the ability to store various data setsthat have different formats facilitates the storage of data associatedwith the system by multiple and unrelated owners of the data sets. Forexample, a first data set which may be stored may be provided by a firstparty, a second data set which may be stored may be provided by anunrelated second party, and yet a third data set which may be stored,may be provided by an third party unrelated to the first and secondparty. Each of these three exemplary data sets may contain differentinformation that is stored using different data storage formats and/ortechniques. Further, each data set may contain subsets of data that alsomay be distinct from other subsets.

As stated above, in various embodiments of system 1600, the data can bestored without regard to a common format. However, in one exemplaryembodiment of the invention, the data set (e.g., BLOB) may be annotatedin a standard manner when provided for manipulating the data onto thefinancial transaction instrument. The annotation may comprise a shortheader, trailer, or other appropriate indicator related to each data setthat is configured to convey information useful in managing the variousdata sets. For example, the annotation may be called a “conditionheader”, “header”, “trailer”, or “status”, herein, and may comprise anindication of the status of the data set or may include an identifiercorrelated to a specific issuer or owner of the data. In one example,the first three bytes of each data set BLOB may be configured orconfigurable to indicate the status of that particular data set; e.g.,LOADED, INITIALIZED, READY, BLOCKED, REMOVABLE, or DELETED. Subsequentbytes of data may be used to indicate for example, the identity of theissuer, user, transaction/membership account identifier or the like.Each of these condition annotations are further discussed herein.

The data set annotation may also be used for other types of statusinformation as well as various other purposes. For example, the data setannotation may include security information establishing access levels.The access levels may, for example, be configured to permit only certainindividuals, levels of employees, companies, or other entities to accessdata sets, or to permit access to specific data sets based on thetransaction, merchant, issuer, user or the like. Furthermore, thesecurity information may restrict/permit only certain actions such asaccessing, modifying, and/or deleting data sets. In one example, thedata set annotation indicates that only the data set owner or the userare permitted to delete a data set, various identified users may bepermitted to access the data set for reading, and others are altogetherexcluded from accessing the data set. However, other access restrictionparameters may also be used allowing various entities to access a dataset with various permission levels as appropriate.

The data, including the header or trailer may be received by astand-alone interaction device configured to add, delete, modify, oraugment the data in accordance with the header or trailer. As such, inone embodiment, the header or trailer is not stored on the transactiondevice along with the associated issuer-owned data but instead theappropriate action may be taken by providing to the transactioninstrument user at the stand-alone device, the appropriate option forthe action to be taken. System 1600 contemplates a data storagearrangement wherein the header or trailer, or header or trailer history,of the data is stored on the transaction instrument in relation to theappropriate data.

One skilled in the art will also appreciate that, for security reasons,any databases, systems, devices, servers or other components of system1600 may consist of any combination thereof at a single location or atmultiple locations, wherein each database or system includes any ofvarious suitable security features, such as firewalls, access codes,encryption, decryption; compression, decompression, and/or the like.

The invention may be described herein in terms of functional blockcomponents, screen shots, optional selections and various processingsteps. It should be appreciated that such functional blocks may berealized by any number of hardware and/or software components configuredto perform the specified functions. For example, system 1600 may employvarious integrated circuit components, e.g., memory elements, processingelements, logic elements, look-up tables, and/or the like, which maycarry out a variety of functions under the control of one or moremicroprocessors or other control devices. Similarly, the softwareelements of system 90 may be implemented with any programming orscripting language such as C, C++, Java, COBOL assembler, PERL, VisualBasic, SQL Stored Procedures, extensible markup language (XML), with thevarious algorithms being implemented with any combination of datastructures, objects, processes, routines or other programming elements.Further, it should be noted that system 90 may employ any number ofconventional techniques for data transmission, signaling, dataprocessing, network control, and/or the like. Still further, system 90could be used to detect or prevent security issues with a client-sidescripting language, such as JavaScript, VBScript or the like. For abasic introduction of cryptography and network security, see any of thefollowing references: (1) “Applied Cryptography: Protocols, Algorithms,And Source Code In C,” by Bruce Schreier, published by John Wiley & Sons(second edition, 1995); (2) “Java Cryptography” by Jonathan Knudson,published by O'Reilly & Associates (1998); (3) “Cryptography &. NetworkSecurity: Principles & Practice” by William Stallings, published byPrentice Hall; all of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

These software elements may be loaded onto a general purpose computer,special purpose computer, or other programmable data processingapparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions that executeon the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus createmeans for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart block orblocks. These computer program instructions may also be stored in acomputer-readable memory that can direct a computer or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readablememory produce an article of manufacture including instruction meanswhich implement the function specified in the flowchart block or blocks.The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer orother programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series ofoperational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmableapparatus to produce a computer-implemented process such that theinstructions which execute on the computer or other programmableapparatus provide steps for implementing the functions specified in theflowchart block or blocks.

Accordingly, functional blocks of the block diagrams and flowchartillustrations support combinations of means for performing the specifiedfunctions, combinations of steps for performing the specified functions,and program instruction means for performing the specified functions. Itwill also be understood that each functional block of the block diagramsand flowchart illustrations, and combinations of functional blocks inthe block diagrams and flowchart illustrations, can be implemented byeither special purpose hardware-based computer systems which perform thespecified functions or steps, or suitable combinations of specialpurpose hardware and computer instructions. Further, illustrations ofthe process flows and the descriptions thereof may make reference touser windows, web pages, web sites, web forms, prompts, etc.Practitioners will appreciate that the illustrated steps describedherein may comprise in any number of configurations including the use ofwindows, web pages, web forms, popup windows, prompts and/or the like.It should be further appreciated that the multiple steps as illustratedand described may be combined into single web pages and/or windows buthave been expanded for the sake of simplicity. In other cases, stepsillustrated and described as single process steps may be separated intomultiple web pages and/or windows but have been combined for simplicity.

Practitioners will appreciate that there are a number of methods fordisplaying data within a browser-based document. Data may be representedas standard text or within a fixed list, scrollable list, drop-downlist, editable text field, fixed text field, pop-up window, and/or thelike. Likewise, there are a number of methods available for modifyingdata in a web page such as, for example, free text entry using akeyboard, selection of menu items, check boxes, option boxes, and/or thelike.

FIG. 17 to 21 are process flow embodiments describing the interactionbetween the various system components for the purposes disclosed hereinand are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. For example,the steps recited in any of the method or process descriptions may beexecuted in any order and are not limited to the order presented. Itwill be appreciated that the following description makes appropriatereferences not only to the elements depicted in FIGS. 17 to 21, but alsoto the various system components as described above with reference toFIG. 16 and the account number table of FIG. 21.

As disclosed herein, system 1600 provides users the ability requestsingle-use account numbers, assign descriptors, define cancellationdates, set transaction limits, assign use parameters, and/or the like.In one embodiment, user 1605 establishes a connection to TranslinkSystem 1655 via web client 1610 and is presented a Translink home pagethat includes any number of links to other web pages and web sites. TheTranslink home page is accessed, for example, through a link within thecard issuer's official Internet web site. The Translink home pagefurther includes fields and/or links to facilitate collection ofauthentication credentials via entry of a user identifier and password,smartcard interfaced with a reader, RF tag interfaced with an RFreceiver, a biometric scan, or any other authentication means known inthe art or later developed. The Translink home page includes a menu withlinks to web pages to enable user 1605 to request account numbers,configure account numbers, view account numbers including status, and/orrequest reports. Practitioners will appreciate that the arrangement anddistribution of the functionality disclosed herein is presented for thepurpose of explanation and example only and does not limit the scope ofthe invention.

After user 1605 has provided authentication credentials via any of themeans described above, the credentials are transmitted to Internetserver 1620. Intranet server 1620 invokes authentication server 1625,which processes the credentials and executes a query against userdatabase 1630 to retrieve a record corresponding to the authenticationcredentials. If corresponding authentication credentials are not found,then a decline message is transmitted to web client 1610 via Internetserver 1620. If corresponding authentication credentials are retrievedfrom user database 1630, then access privileges are determined and asession is started for user 1605.

The above is but one embodiment of an authentication system that may beemployed to limit access to Translink System 1655. Practitioners willappreciate that system 1600 may implement any known methods forpreventing access from unauthorized users such as requiring users toregister and/or by assigning authentication credentials to individualusers. However, system 1600 anticipates an authentication server 1625which is employed to enforce security policies by allowing varyinglevels of access to users based on such policies. Internet securityprotocols including methods of authentication and user management arewell known in the art, therefore system 1600 may employ any number ofsecurity architectures and authentication processes which will not bedescribed a greater detail herein.

FIG. 16 is an exemplary process diagram for automatic reconciliation ofcard transactions, according to an embodiment of the present invention.After the establishment of a connection to Translink System 1655 via webclient 1610, an interface is provided wherein user 1605 may requestaccount numbers either singularly or in bulk. In one embodiment, theaccount number request interface provides fields to enable user 1605 toenter a transaction descriptor in addition to account number parametersgoverning the use and management of the account number. Practitionerswill appreciate that these fields may take the form of free-form textentry fields dropdown menus, option boxes, date selection popup, and/orthe like. Moreover, system 1600 may be configured to make some fieldsrequired while defining others as optional. For example, entering acancellation date may be optional, meaning that if the field is leftblank, the account number will not be removed until it is used tofacilitate a purchase transaction.

As previously mentioned, user 1605 may define account number parametersto associate with a requested account number. Such parameters mayinclude, for example, a cancellation date, a transaction limit, and ause limit. If user 1605 enters a cancellation date, Translink system1655 deletes the account number from account database 1650 afterreaching the defined date if the account number has not been used. Atransaction limit may be defined to ensure that a purchase made usingthe associated account number does not exceed a predetermined sum. Forexample, in requesting, an account number for the purchase of a laptopcomputer, user 1605 may determine, according to company policy, that thepurchases of laptop computers must not exceed $2,000. Thus, if theaccount number is used in an attempt to purchase a $2,100 laptopcomputer, the transaction would be declined, or the system may requestthat the employee provide personal funds or loyalty points, A USC limitdefines how the account number must be used. In another embodiment, theuse limit may define a suggested use of the account number, or variousoptions for use of an account number. The use limit may comprise a listof approved service establishments, wherein if the account number isused to attempt to facilitate a purchase transaction with a serviceestablishment that is not listed, the transaction is declined.

Practitioners will appreciate that a use limit may further governpurchase transactions by manufacturer, service establishment location,industry, product type, service type, date, and/or the like. Moreover,the account number descriptor may also limit the use of the accountnumber. For example, if user 1605 enters an “office supplies”descriptor, an attempted purchase of an airline ticket may be declined.The invention also contemplates that partial or complete use of theaccount number outside of the use limits may result in a decline, apartial decline, a request to use personal funds, a request to useanother account, a request for additional authentication credentials, adecline based upon the card holder status, a request to use loyaltypoints, a request to charge the transaction to another company or vendorand/or the like.

When user 1605 configures an account number request, he may select alink to add a second account number to the request or select a link tosubmit the request (step 1720) to the ATPT utility 1705 for processing.If user 1605 wishes to include more than one account number to therequest, the above steps may be repeated any number of times until thedesired number of account numbers have been configured and added to therequest. In one embodiment, the account number request interfaceincludes an upload link to enable user 1605 to upload a request file fora bulk account number request. The bulk request file may comprise anyfile format including, for example, a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet,Microsoft Word document, an Adobe PDF file, and/or the like. The filemay contain a number of rows, each representing an account number, withcolumns for defining a descriptor, a cancellation date, a transactionlimit, and a use limit. Thus, the bulk request file may be prepared inadvance and uploaded to system 1600 by selecting an “Upload” link fromthe account number request interface, locating the file in a “File Open”dialog, selecting the bulk request file, and selecting an “Upload File”button. After the file has been uploaded to system 1600, user 1605 mayselect a link to submit the bulk request file (step 1720) to the ATPTutility 1705.

Whether the request is transmitted via a HTML stream containing one ormore account numbers or as a bulk request file, the request istransmitted (step 1725) to IPM (Integrated Program Management) 1710where it is formatted, verified, and processed. IPM 1710 is linked withan existing card issuance system via web services, for example, togenerate account numbers in accordance with the request. Informationaccompanying the request may include user credentials, a corporateaccount identifier, and any other information that is required ordesired for the processing of an account number request.

Practitioners will appreciate that the request may utilize an existingcard issuer computing processes and architecture. For example, cardissuers such as American Express have existing systems and processes inplace for receiving a request to establish a transaction account andissue a unique account identifier that is used by the account holder andmerchant to facilitate purchase transactions. As such, ATPT 1705 mayformat the request in the conventional manner. When the request isreceived by IPM 1710, it is processed just as any other account requestwould be processed, thereby requiring little or no modification toexisting card issuer systems.

After IPM 1710 has processed the request, one or more assigned accountnumbers are transmitted (step 1730) to ATPT utility 1705. The accountnumbers are stored with their associated descriptor and parameters inaccount database 1650. Referring to FIG. 21, the diagram illustrates anexemplary database table for maintaining the single-use account numbersin accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The tableincludes an account number column 2110 for maintaining the accountnumbers that were generated and transmitted to ATPT 1705 in step 1730.Each is a single-use account number that is locked after it is used forthe intended purchase transaction as shown at 2120. Further, the tableincludes a descriptor column for storing the transaction descriptor asentered by user 1605 when creating the account number request.

Practitioners will appreciate that FIG. 21 is a very basicrepresentation of a database table that may be used to maintainsingle-use account numbers and their associated descriptor. Aspreviously stated, the table may include columns for a cancellationdate, transaction limit, use limit, etc. Moreover, the table may includeprimary and secondary keys to associate all of the account numbers withuser 1605, a corporate account identifier, a specific corporate cardaccount number, and/or the like.

At any time following the receipt and storage of the requested one ormore account numbers (step 1730), user 1605 may establish a connectionto Translink System 1655 to retrieve one or more of the account numbers(step 1735). In one embodiment, ATPT utility 1645 executes a queryagainst account database 1650 to locate the first available accountnumber that is not locked. Referring to FIG. 21, when an unlockedaccount number is located, an indicator is added to the “locked” field2120 indicating that the account number is in use, thereby preventingthe duplicate use of the account number. The account number may bepresented within an interface enabling user 1605 to note or print theaccount number. In another embodiment, one or more account numbers maybe transmitted to user 1605 via email, facsimile, text message, or byany other means known in the art.

After retrieving the single-use account number, user 1605 maysubsequently provide the account number to a service establishment tofacilitate payment for a good or service. The service establishment mayprocess the account number in the conventional manner through input to apoint of sale device or by any other means. Moreover, because theaccount number represents a true transaction card number, standardsettlement systems and processes may be employed via the card issuer1660.

Following the end of each business day, or at any other predeterminedinterval, issuer 1715 transmits transactional data (step 1740) to ATPT1705 for daily reconciliation. For each transaction being processed,ATPT utility 1645 executes a query against account database 1650 usingthe account number from the transactional data. Referring again to FIG.21, after locating a record corresponding to the account number, thedescriptor is retrieved from the descriptor field 2130 and a record iscreated in a reconciled transactions table that includes the accountnumber of the corresponding descriptor. The record may further includethe transaction date, transaction amount, service establishmentidentifier, location, and/or the like.

After reconciling a transaction account number with an accountdescriptor, ATPT 1705 transmits an account cancellation request (step1745) to IPM 1710. Because each account number is for single-use, IPM1710 is notified when the account number has been used so that it can becancelled, thereby eliminating any possibility that the same accountnumber will be used in a subsequent transaction. Other events may alsotrigger a cancellation of an account number such as, for example,reaching a defined account number cancellation date prior to the accountnumber being used in a transaction, improper use of the account numberand/or the like. Defining a cancellation date may prevent accountdatabase 1650 from accumulating a number of active, yet unused accountnumbers.

FIG. 18 is an exemplary process diagram for facilitating a purchasetransaction through a single-use account number in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention. When an account number is requiredfor payment to a vendor (step 1800), determination is made whether theidentified vendor is an existing vendor (step 1805). If the identifiedvendor is not authorized to accept the single-use account number forpayment, then the purchaser is notified (step 1830) in order todetermine whether to use an alternative payment method or select adifferent vendor. In response to a request to obtain an account number,ATPT utility 1645 issues a query to account database 1650 to retrievethe first account number that has not been locked, locks the retrievedaccount number (step 1810), and communicates the account number to theuser (step 1815). ATPT utility 1645 queries a descriptor table toretrieve the assigned descriptor corresponding to the account number andadd the descriptor to the account number record (step 1820) in accountdatabase 1660. User 1605 then communicates the account number to theservice establishment (e.g., vendor) to facilitate a payment (step1825). User 1605 may communicate the account code to a serviceestablishment by way of at least one of verbal, telephone, facsimile,purchase order, email, sales contract, web page, and personal digitalassistant.

FIG. 19 is an exemplary process for facilitating a daily reconciliationof card transactions in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention. ATPT utility 1645 receives a daily transaction file (step1900) from card issuer 1660. The daily transaction file contains detailsrelating to any number of purchase transactions over a defined period oftime (e.g., twenty-four hours), ATPT utility 1645 processes the file byextracting transaction details including an account number, queryingaccount database to retrieve a record corresponding to the transactionaccount number, and/or creating a record in a reconciled transactionstable recording the transaction authorization code, claim number, and/orother transaction details (step 1910). ATPT utility 1645 frees thereconciled account number (step 1920) by removing the account numberfrom account database 1650 and transmitting an account numbercancellation request to IPM. In one embodiment, the account number isnot canceled and the lock is removed from account number record inaccount database 1650.

FIG. 20 is an exemplary process for facilitating a monthlyreconciliation of card transactions in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention. To provide holistic reporting for transactionsperformed both within and outside of Translink System 1655. ATPT utility1645 receives a monthly transaction file (step 2000) from card issuer1660. The monthly transaction file contains details relating to anynumber of conventional and single-use account purchase transactions overa previous month. ATPT utility 1645 matches individual bills with eachcorresponding record within the client's accounting system according toauthorization code (step 2010) and compiles a report detailing anclient's spend activity over the previous month (step 2020). In oneembodiment, user 1605 may interact with ATPT utility 1645 to generatereports for other months as well. For example, user 1605 may select toview a reports summarizing the previous quarter on a month-by-monthbasis.

While the steps outlined above represent a specific embodiment of theinvention, practitioners will appreciate that there are any number ofcomputing algorithms and user interfaces that may be applied to createsimilar results. The steps are presented for the sake of explanationonly and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in anyway.

Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have beendescribed herein with regard to specific embodiments. However, thebenefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that maycause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become morepronounced are not to be construed as critical, required, or essentialfeatures or elements of any or all the claims or the invention, itshould be understood that the detailed description and specificexamples, indicating exemplary embodiments of the invention, are givenfor purposes of illustration only and not as limitations. Many changesand modifications within the scope of the instant invention may be madewithout departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includesall such modifications. Corresponding structures, materials, acts, andequivalents of all elements in the claims below are intended to includeany structure, material, or acts for performing the functions incombination with other claim elements as specifically claimed. The scopeof the invention should be determined by the appended claims and theirlegal equivalents, rather than by the examples given above.

1. A method comprising: comparing, by a reconciliation computer,transaction details of transactions with a transaction descriptor of anaccount code record to verify said transactions; categorizing, by saidcomputer and based on said transaction descriptor, said transactionsinto a grouping; and reconciling, by said computer, said transactions toan accounting system based upon said transaction descriptor.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein at least one of said groupings and saidtransaction descriptor are user-defined.
 3. The method of claim 1,wherein said transaction descriptor is associated with at least one of aproduct category, a budget category, and an entry in an accountingsystem.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said account code record isassociated with a use constraint.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein saidaccount code record is associated with a use constraint, and whereinsaid use constraint comprises at least one of a transaction amountlimit, an expiration date, a list of authorized service establishments,authorized locations, authorized product types, authorizedmanufacturers, authorized industry, and authorized transaction dates. 6.The method of claim 1, wherein said account code record is associatedwith a use constraint, and wherein said use constraint enables saidaccount code to be used to facilitate a purchase transaction with aservice establishment according to at least one of: manufacturer,industry, product type, and service type.
 7. The method of claim 1,wherein said transaction descriptor is associated with an account codeto create an account code record.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein astatement is produced and said statement comprises at least one of saidgrouping and said transaction descriptor.
 9. The method of claim 1,wherein said account code record causes at least one of a decline, apartial decline, a request to use personal finds, a request to useanother account, a request for additional authentication credentials, adecline based upon a status of said transaction account, a request touse loyalty points, a request to charge at least a portion of saidtransaction to another company, and a request to charge at least aportion of said transaction to a vendor.
 10. The method of claim 1,further comprising retrieving said account code record from an accountissuer.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein said account code record isassociated with an account code that is restricted to a certaingeographic area.
 12. The method of claim 1, further comprising receivingrequest for an account code record.
 13. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising receiving said transaction details from a transactionprocessor.
 14. An article of manufacture including a non-transitory,tangible computer readable medium having instructions stored thereonthat, in response to execution by a computer-based system forreconciliation, cause the computer-based system to perform operationscomprising: comparing, by said computer-based system, transactiondetails of transactions with a transaction descriptor of an account coderecord to verify said transactions; categorizing, by said computer-basedsystem and based on said transaction descriptor, said transactions intoa grouping; and reconciling, by said computer-based system, saidtransactions to an accounting system based upon said transactiondescriptor.
 15. The article of claim 14, wherein at least one of saidgroupings and said transaction descriptor are user-defined.
 16. Thearticle of claim 14, wherein said transaction descriptor is associatedwith at least one of a product category, a budget category, and an entryin an accounting system.
 17. The article of claim 14, wherein saidaccount code record is associated with a use constraint.
 18. The articleof claim 14, wherein said account code record is associated with a useconstraint, and wherein said use constraint comprises at least one of atransaction amount limit, an expiration date, a list of authorizedservice establishments, authorized locations, authorized product types,authorized manufacturers, authorized industry, and authorizedtransaction dates.
 19. The article of claim 14, wherein said accountcode record is associated with a use constraint, and wherein said useconstraint enables said account code to be used to facilitate a purchasetransaction with a service establishment according to at least one of:manufacturer, industry, product type, and service type.
 20. A systemcomprising: a processor configured for reconciliation, a. tangible,non-transitory memory configured to communicate with the processor, thetangible, non-transitory memory having instructions stored thereon that,in response to execution by the processor, cause the processor toperform operations comprising: comparing, by said processor, transactiondetails of transactions with a transaction descriptor of an account coderecord to verify said transactions; categorizing, by said processor andbased on said transaction descriptor, said transactions into a grouping;and reconciling, by said processor, said transactions to an accountingsystem based upon said transaction descriptor.